Pleuger supplies water pumps to copper mine in Chile

German motor pump manufacturer Pleuger Industries has announced it will supply six tailor-made water pump units for the filtration of copper concentrate at the Collahuasi Mine in Chile.

Located in the Tarapacá region of Chile, the operation produces over 5,000 tons of fine copper annually, making it one of the largest copper mines in the world.

The mine relies on the flotation process for enrichment, for which Pleuger has supplied six tailor-made pumps.

The 10-inch submersible motor pumps will be used to dewater copper sludge in the flotation process and extract copper concentrate.

Process pumps used in copper production operate under extreme conditions, so reliability must be a top priority. To counter the oxidisation of the pumps by copper, Pleuger employed a corrosion protection concept that was specifically adapted during the design phase for the Chilean customer.

The pump systems are also energy efficient, as copper production at the Collahuasi Mine follows an energy management system based on international standards.