End freshwater withdrawals for mining processes in Los Bronces by 2030, while providing new water supply for communities in need.
Anglo American - Chile
(
Private sector
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#SDGAction50633
Description
We recognise access to water as key enabler for social equality and prosperity. At Anglo American, our objective is to use, manage, and care for water through the lifecycle of our operations in a way that is socially and culturally equitable, environmentally sustainable, and economically beneficial. Globally, we have committed to reducing the withdrawals of freshwater in water scarce areas by 50% by 2030. For context, 83% of our operations are in water scare areas, including Chile. To achieve this, our goal for the Los Bronces mine in Chile is to stop withdrawals of freshwater for mining processes by 2030. This target supports our focus on improving access to water for communities and ecosystems. Key to achieving our commitment at Los Bronces, was the signing of an agreement with Aguas Pacifico in October 2022 to supply 500 l/s of desalinated sea water from its new desalination plant located in Puchuncaví, Valparaíso, scheduled to start in 2025. This is the first phase of our Integrated Water Security Plan (IWSP). This will enable us to nearly halve our current freshwater withdrawals. As part of this first phase, we will provide desalinated sea water to the communities of Colina and Tiltil, who are currently reliant on rural drinking systems facing declining groundwater levels and water delivered by truck. The agreement with Aguas Pacifico will not only contribute to decreasing freshwater withdrawals for our operation but also provide greater water security to 20,000 people. The second phase of the IWSP will be the implementation of an innovative swap scheme to increase the supply of desalinated water for human consumption providing500 l/s in exchange for treated wastewater to supply the operation. This second phase depends on a final board decision and its subject to the feasibility of environmental permits and project schedule. If approved, it would boost water supply in the Valparaiso region in Chile and increase drinking water security for almost 1 million people before 2030. The IWSP complements the existing Rural Water Program, which directly supports the management of the Rural Drinking Water Systems (APRs) Committees and is thus strengthens local water governance initiatives. This commitment to the communities is part of an ongoing journey of collaboration that started with conducting a catchment-scale water balance study in 2018. From that study, a strategic alliance with We-Techs, a Chilean water services company, was formed for the purposes of monitoring and managing water resources remotely through technology. To date, through this collaboration, we have implemented improvements in eighty-three APRs located in four provinces of the Metropolitan and Valparaiso regions (Chacabuco, Los Andes, Quillota and San Felipe). This has generated more than 35% increase in water availability and benefited more than 130,000 people through savings in energy consumption, reduction of mains water breakage and, most importantly, greater availability of water for human consumption. We will continue to collaborate with host communities and develop mutually beneficial strategies that contribute to greater water security for the region.
• Water availability for human consumption and sanitation will increase due to the cessation of freshwater withdrawals for Anglo American's mining processes in a water stressed area through the addition of between 170l/s (dry year) and 500 l/s (wet year) of potable water. • Increase water reuse (site and regionally), both through the recirculation of water at the operation itself, as well as the utilization of desalinated water and later treated wastewater - unsuitable for human consumption - to supply all the operation's needs. • Increase availability of water resources through access to desalinated water in two communities with water shortage problems (Colina and Tiltil), benefiting about 20,000 people. • Strengthening the communities' Rural Drinking Water Systems (APRs) for better management and increased water resource availability in the communities where Anglo American operates through the continuity and expansion of the locally run Rural Drinking Water Program, currently benefiting more than 130,000 people.
WeTech, Aguas Pacífico, Rural Drinking Water Committee in Colina, Lampa, Llayllay, Tiltil, Calle Larga, Los Andes, San Esteban, Nogales, Catemu, Panquehue and Lo Barnechea
SDGS & Targets
Goal 6
Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
6.1
By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all
6.1.1
Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services
6.2
By 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations
6.2.1
Proportion of population using (a) safely managed sanitation services and (b) a hand-washing facility with soap and water
6.3
By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally
6.3.1
Proportion of domestic and industrial wastewater flows safely treated
6.3.2
Proportion of bodies of water with good ambient water quality
6.4
6.4.1
Change in water-use efficiency over time
6.4.2
Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of available freshwater resources
6.5
By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate
6.5.1
Degree of integrated water resources management
6.5.2
Proportion of transboundary basin area with an operational arrangement for water cooperation
6.6
6.6.1
Change in the extent of water-related ecosystems over time
6.a
6.a.1
Amount of water- and sanitation-related official development assistance that is part of a government-coordinated spending plan
6.b
Support and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation management
6.b.1
Proportion of local administrative units with established and operational policies and procedures for participation of local communities in water and sanitation management
Goal 9
Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
9.1
9.1.1
Proportion of the rural population who live within 2 km of an all-season road
9.1.2
Passenger and freight volumes, by mode of transport
9.2
Promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and, by 2030, significantly raise industry’s share of employment and gross domestic product, in line with national circumstances, and double its share in least developed countries
9.2.1
Manufacturing value added as a proportion of GDP and per capita
9.2.2
Manufacturing employment as a proportion of total employment
9.3
9.3.1
Proportion of small-scale industries in total industry value added
9.3.2
Proportion of small-scale industries with a loan or line of credit
9.4
By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes, with all countries taking action in accordance with their respective capabilities
9.4.1
CO2 emission per unit of value added
9.5
9.5.1
Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP
9.5.2
Researchers (in full-time equivalent) per million inhabitants
9.a
9.a.1
Total official international support (official development assistance plus other official flows) to infrastructure
9.b
9.b.1
Proportion of medium and high-tech industry value added in total value added
9.c
Significantly increase access to information and communications technology and strive to provide universal and affordable access to the Internet in least developed countries by 2020
9.c.1
Proportion of population covered by a mobile network, by technology
Goal 12
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
12.1
Implement the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns, all countries taking action, with developed countries taking the lead, taking into account the development and capabilities of developing countries
12.1.1
Number of countries developing, adopting or implementing policy instruments aimed at supporting the shift to sustainable consumption and production
12.2
By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources
12.2.1
Material footprint, material footprint per capita, and material footprint per GDP
12.2.2
Domestic material consumption, domestic material consumption per capita, and domestic material consumption per GDP
12.3
By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses
12.3.1
(a) Food loss index and (b) food waste index
12.4
By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment
12.4.1
12.4.2
(a) Hazardous waste generated per capita; and (b) proportion of hazardous waste treated, by type of treatment
12.5
By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse
12.5.1
National recycling rate, tons of material recycled
12.6
Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle
12.6.1
12.7
Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities
12.7.1
Number of countries implementing sustainable public procurement policies and action plans
12.8
By 2030, ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature
12.8.1
Extent to which (i) global citizenship education and (ii) education for sustainable development are mainstreamed in (a) national education policies; (b) curricula; (c) teacher education; and (d) student assessment
12.a
Support developing countries to strengthen their scientific and technological capacity to move towards more sustainable patterns of consumption and production
12.a.1
Installed renewable energy-generating capacity in developing countries (in watts per capita)
12.b
Develop and implement tools to monitor sustainable development impacts for sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products
12.b.1
Implementation of standard accounting tools to monitor the economic and environmental aspects of tourism sustainability
12.c
Rationalize inefficient fossil-fuel subsidies that encourage wasteful consumption by removing market distortions, in accordance with national circumstances, including by restructuring taxation and phasing out those harmful subsidies, where they exist, to reflect their environmental impacts, taking fully into account the specific needs and conditions of developing countries and minimizing the possible adverse impacts on their development in a manner that protects the poor and the affected communities
12.c.1
Amount of fossil-fuel subsidies (production and consumption) per unit of GDP
SDG 14 targets covered
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Deliverables & Timeline
Anglo American signed a 20-year agreement to supply 500 l/s desalinated sea water to the mine by 2025 (phase 1). We have an option to expand up to 1,000 l/s. This will enable Los Bronces to stop freshwater withdrawals for mining processes at the operation.
Anglo American will promote round tables with Authorities and users of vulnerable rural potable water systems in the cicinity of Las Tortolas and the pipeline route to collaboratively prioritize the supply of up to 5 l/s of water to the communities.
Anglo American is the anchor client for the construction of a 1,000 l/s desalination plant run by Aguas Pacífico that will commence operations in 2025.
IWSP Phase 2 will enable the swap of 500 l/s desalinated sea water for treated wastewater (subject to environmental permits feasibility and project schedule). If approved, it would increase drinking water security for aprox. 1 million people before 2030.
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Entity
Region
- Latin America and the Caribbean
Other beneficiaries
Communities in the area of influence, Rural Drinking Water Committees in Colina, Lampa, Llayllay, Tiltil, Calle Larga, Los Andes, San Esteban, Nogales, Catemu, Panquehue and Lo Barnechea
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Contact Information
Daniela, Lead in Civil Society Engagement
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