Clean Raw Materials from the Andes: CDM Smith Supports Project for Sustainable Mining

5.3 million tonnes of copper were produced in 2016 in Chile alone and this makes Chile one of the largest exporting countries of copper. From a German perspective, Chile is even the most important importer of copper. Bolivia and Peru are also traditional mining countries, and account for more than half of their economic strength through the extraction of raw materials. In Ecuador and Colombia, the sector is currently undergoing further development.

This intensive mining activity, however, has led to considerable numbers of contaminated sites throughout the Andean region. These sites contain toxic residues in soil and groundwater which endanger the health of the local people. Depending on the process, raw material production also consumes a great deal of water and energy - resources that are already scarce in some areas of the Andes. The often inequitable share of the poorer and indigenous people in the economic growth of these countries also leads to social conflicts. Often, entire villages have to give way to the mining industries and are subsequently relocated.

Against this background, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) is financing a project that aims to put mining in the Andean region on a more sustainable footing. The German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) and the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) are implementing the project with the help of a consortium in which CDM Smith plays a significant role.

The project comprises four parts, all of which aim to impart knowledge and to improve the network of the South American experts both internally and internationally. Firstly, we develop a guide that reflects our experience in dealing with legacy issues and the demolition or reuse of mining landscapes and mining infrastructure. Secondly, together with the other partners, we organise a one-week trip for local South American experts to mining sites in Germany. The trip is intended to provide delegates with an insight into successful contaminated land management projects related to mining. They visit former mining sites that have been successfully recultivated and are now being reused. Thirdly, we present our results and positive examples in Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, and in Chile. Finally, we advise and assist in the development of measures for managing mining waste management in the Andean region. The findings are then documented in a report, which should serve as a useful guide for future projects.  

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