Antofagasta halts Los Pelambres desalination work to finish collapse cleanup

On August 15 severe sea swells overturned a construction platform at the project. The mining company said there had been no significant environmental impact or damage to the works, and some of the equipment and materials lost have been recovered.

However, the swells have continued which have impeded further recovery work and the Chilean environmental authority, the SMA, said that as a precautionary measure marine works should be placed on hold until the clean-up of the remaining sunk equipment carrying fuel or lubricants until any risk of environmental impact is removed.

“The recovery of the lost equipment and materials is underway and is expected to be completed once weather conditions improve. To date, there has been no material impact to the expected completion date of the overall desalination plant project,” the company said in a statement.

Reporting by Frank Prenesti at Sharecast.com