Solar desalination plant to supply Chilean mines is approved

Trends Industrial’s ambitious, multi-client, solar-powered desalination project to supply water to mines in Atacama desert, Chile, has been approved by the country’s environmental agency.

The project, named Energías y Aguas del Pacífico (ENAPAC), underwent a year-long  environmental impact study (EIS) which was passed by Chile’s Environmental Evaluation Commission on 26 September 2018.

“This is an important project milestone. The response from industry, particularly mining projects, has been very positive and we’re advancing conversations with many companies. We predict the EIA approval will accelerate those conversations and agreements,” said Trends Industrial chief executive Rodrigo Silva.

The proposal is for a 227,232 m3/d reverse osmosis desalination facility, powered by a 100 MW photovoltaic plant, and with a reservoir of 600,000 m3 capacity. The required investment is pegged at $500 million.

Almar Water Solutions signs MoU with ENAPAC project, Chile (June 2018)

Case study: Chile project envisions multiple mining clients for solar-powered SWRO (June 2017)