Important advances in construction, preparation of contracts and provision of services presents the New Sentinel project in Sierra Gorda, an initiative that will expand production and extend the useful life of Minera Centinela, operated by Antofagasta Minerals in the Antofagasta Region.
This initiative, which presents the largest investment in mining in recent years, To date, its endowment has increased by more than 2,000 people, of which more than half develop field workand several companies already they began their installations at work such as earthworks, creation of roads and platforms.
Construction has already begun at the site. concrete plants, fundamental for works and concentrator building. In parallel, work is being done on the camp qualificationwhich seeks in the future to have the capacity to 6,000 workers.
«Nueva Centinela is a key project for our growth. It will contribute significantly to the aspiration of the group of increase your production in the long term and reflects the confidence we have in the key role of copper in the transition to a low emissions economy«said the executive president of Antofagasta Minerals, Iván Arriagada.
For his part, the general manager of Minera Centinela, Carlos Espinoza, explained that «Nueva Centinela is a fundamental step for the growth of this mining district and represents our way of doing things in terms of sustainability, using 100% undesaled seawater and electrical energy from only renewable sources, and promoting regional employment and the development of local suppliers.»
Local labor
To privilege the local workforce, actions have been carried out in recent months various information days of the job offers that the Nueva Centinela project brings in various communities in the region, in which more than 2,000 people from María Elena, Sierra Gorda, Baquedano, Mejillones, Michilla, Antofagasta and Calama.
These instances are developed in conjunction with the Labor Intermediation Offices (OMIL) of the municipalities and the collaborating companies have recruited workers for tasks of construction, logistics and services.
During the most intense moment of construction, 13,000 jobs, and a thousand more when it becomes operational, year 2027, considering female employability.