A robotic device that inspects and scans the Codelco El Teniente Division tailings channel traveled 40 kilometers of the channel a few weeks ago, as part of the first stage of the Annual General Maintenance (MGA) of the copper company.

This tool provides the necessary information to understand in detail the status of the asset, which extends for 87 kilometers, from the operations area of the El Teniente Division, in the pre-mountainous area of the O'Higgins region, to the Carén reservoir, in the commune of Alhué, in the Metropolitan Region.

“These tasks are especially challenging because the community witnesses them, so coordination with neighbors is important so that they know that these are scheduled tasks and do not cause concern,” says Nicolás Gómez, specialist engineer of the Superintendency of Water Resources and Tailings Maintenance, Codelco El Teniente Division.

Roberto Pozo, head of Civil Maintenance at the Water Resources and Tailings Maintenance Unit, supports this point: “We have to consider many aspects, because we don’t always have so much movement in the canal, so the neighbors wonder what is happening. In this sense, we work together with them, so that everything goes well, where we are supported by community specialists, who approach the people, explain things to them and make a communication channel.”

Teamwork and communication In addition to the inspection, the work included the repair of more than 1,500 meters of the channel and tasks in conjunction with other operational areas of the El Teniente Division.

“We defined tasks and priorities, in addition to doubling the focus of attention to serve both the Concentration Plant and the Caletones Smelter, since cleanings and valve changes were carried out in parallel in the main tanks of Colón and Caletones,” explains Belén Jelves, acting head of the Water Resources Operations Unit of the El Teniente Division. “As we had good coordination, the water contributions were made in time and with quality, so that no area was left without water resources.”

The specialist engineer of the Maintenance Unit of the Management of Dams, Tailings and Water Resources (GTRH), Nicolás Gómez, highlights that “there was very good teamwork, not only during the detention, but also in the previous months of planning with the different areas. We took lessons learned and that allowed us to comply 100% in terms of time, quality, safety and the environment.”

Preparations for the second stage

All these works lasted 120 hours, between January 20 and 24. However, GTRH is already preparing for the second stage of the MGA, which will take place in mid-March, with a scheduled stoppage of 72 hours.

“Our main focus has to be on safety, on taking care of ourselves, for a successful MGA, without accidents. Good planning is key to not improvising, because that is what, in most cases, ends up causing accidents,” says Jelves.

Meanwhile, GTRH Maintenance Superintendent Daniel Gómez is cautious when he says that “work well done and well planned for months produces the expected results. We have completed this first stage, but we cannot celebrate before concluding the second stage in March, where we have an equal or greater challenge.”