We showed the Sustainable World program our project – the largest currently underway – to recover these lands that will be delivered to the community.
Heavy metals are one of the biggest soil contaminants. These include cadmium and lead, present in the environment, and which can affect some biological processes because they are not degradable, in addition to contamination due to dispersion, spillage or transfer of dangerous substances.
Fortunately, at Hidronor we work towards environmental sustainability and the reduction of climate change by reducing the carbon footprint through our remediation and sanitation services for contaminated land. Together with a team from the Sustainable World program we went to the Antofagasta to Bolivia Railway (FCAB) facilities to, precisely, remediate more than 48 hectares of its land.
More than 90 years of pollution
At the site, Tatiana Rodríguez, head of Environment and Remediation FCAB, explained that in 1904, a free trade agreement was initiated with Bolivia to transport lead and zinc mineral concentrates until 1998. “On that occasion, FCAB did not "It only transported these metals, but also stored them within its yards, therefore, there is a history of more than 90 years of contamination of these concentrates, a time when there were no strict environmental regulations and references as we have now."
In this regard, Juan Andrés Salamanca, Commercial Manager of Hidronor, said that “this is an emblematic project both for the city of Antofagasta and nationally, since here we are remediating more than 48 hectares, which is equivalent to 450 thousand tons of contaminated soil, which is equivalent to around 48 soccer fields.”
Final process
This material is extracted and taken by land to our Antofagasta Plant, where the final process is carried out. Samuel Tupuro, jefe de esta planta, explicó que “los residuos se llevan hasta nuestra planta, se hacen análisis, y en función de eso hay residuos que, por su caracterización, son tratados, y, en otros casos, son dispuestos en el depósito de seguridad que está debidamente autorizado”.
At Hidronor we deliver the land in optimal conditions for the subsequent use of the community!
