Blog

Chile is home to the world’s largest supply of copper, but the process of extracting it can be time-consuming and dangerous for workers – a challenge EPCM tackled with high-tech solutions at one major mine. The key to success was re-visioning how the mine handles a process called “heap leaching irrigation.”

Decisions made at the design and supply stage of a project can have far-reaching consequences down the line. When it comes to cathode design, edge strips are a small but critical consideration that’s often overlooked upfront – but ends up having a major impact on safety, cost, productivity, and the environment.

As concerns about environmental issues escalate, the global race is on to shift to greener, more sustainable economies. With electrification of transportation as a vital tool to combat these issues, the need for metals to be mined and processed using a clean, low carbon approach is critical.

“Industry 4.0” refers to combining the automation of traditional manufacturing and industrial practices with the power of leading-edge communications technology, the Internet, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. For the team here at EPCM, Industry 4.0 is much more than a buzzword; it denotes real, positive change for companies and their employees.

Our team at EPCM was faced with a unique challenge when contracted to fully modernize a decades-old Australian copper refinery. Our task was to equip the BHP Olympic Dam – considered to be the world’s fourth largest copper resource – with the latest technologies and safety measures, but without expanding the footprint of the existing site.