Description
The copper deposit in Mina Justa, Peru, is considered to be one of the largest of its kind in the world, with an estimated value of $1.6 billion. It will produce 102,000 metric tonnes of copper concentrate and 58,000 metric tonnes of copper cathode annually.
Located in the San Juan de Marcona District of Nazca Province, within the Department of Ica, this significant copper operation is owned by Minsur, from the Breca y Alxar International Group, which is in turn a member of the Chilean Empresas Copec Group. ULMA has participated throughout this entire project in collaboration with GyM and Consorcio Cosapi – ICSK, offering efficient and safe engineering solutions in the form of more than 5,000 metric tonnes of scaffolding and formwork for the construction process and the electromechanical installations necessary for the oxide and sulphur processing plants.
ULMA solution
The ORMA Panel Formwork was chosen, in combination with SMK Trusses, to contain the lateral pressure exerted by the concrete poured to build the structure composed of 15 vats. With an approximate surface area of 1600 m2 each, and perimeters lined by 7.70 m high walls, the prohibition of tie rods and the need to perform stripping in a single phase, was only one of the challenges presented in completing this structure.
The structures destined for material storage and grinding operations are composed of a large foundation and heavy slabs forming a rectangular floor geometry. Both the foundation and the walls were built using the LGW Lightweight Panel Formwork, using DW15 tie rods to withstand the pressure exerted by the concrete poured. The structure for material storage, or stockpile area, is composed of two floors of walls and slabs. The BMK brackets were used to support the wall formwork and the exterior ring while also providing safe working platforms necessary.
The base of the slab was poured using phenolic plywood set on VM-20 Beams. These beams served to transfer the vertical load exerted by the concrete poured, as well as the additional weight of personnel and equipment. ALUPROP towers were used as shoring to absorb these loads.
BRIO Modular Scaffolding was used to create temporary access towers with heights reaching 24 m, working platforms, and footbridges for the grinding and sifting areas. The scaffolding systems chosen for this project proved themselves to be safe, versatile, and profitable, meeting the high standards demanded by the customer.
The engineers at ULMA’s Peruvian subsidiary were able to offer the best possible solutions for the diverse demands of this complex project, attending to the high quality standards and demanding safety requirements. This is the result of ULMA’s experience in Peru, with more than 18 years of work on the country’s major mining operations in diverse geographical areas, where the climate and other environmental factors are often extreme. For ULMA, it is important to form a part of projects such as this, which contribute to Peru’s economic development, fostering growth and improving living conditions for all of the country’s inhabitants.
