Los Pelambres Copper Mine

In 2010, Bechtel completed its fourth project at Chile's Los Pelambres copper mine.

The $760 million expansion increased the capacity of the mine's concentrator from 145,000 tons (132,000 tonnes) to 175,000 tons (159,000 tonnes) per day.

Bechtel built the concentrator at Los Pelambres between 1996 and 1999. In 2001, we returned to add a $40 million pebble crusher, and followed that with installation of additional conveying, grinding, and flotation equipment. "We’ve had a very strong relationship with our customer," says Bechtel Operations Manager Paige Wilson. "We share the same values and have developed high levels of trust. They know they can count on us to do everything possible to be under budget and ahead of schedule."

The project, located in the Andes some 124 miles (200 kilometers) from Chile's capital, Santiago, comprises two main work sites: the mine area and primary crusher at an elevation of 9,800 feet (almost 3,000 meters), and the concentrator at 5,200 feet (1,600 meters). A conveyor transports ore from the crusher to the concentrator.