: Field Trip March, 9 - 14, 2009

Chile is a country of the end of the world. Topics In its south extreme, the island of Tierra del Fuego, Cape Horn, its unleashed seas, its steep glaciers. Chilean Energy Context 2 In the North, the desert of Chilean electricity system 5 Atacama, one of the driest to the world, surrounded by Gaz combined cycle 6 the volcanoes of the Water treatment plant 7 Cordillera peaking in more of 6000m of height. Tightened Town Gas injection plant 8 between these two extremes, Construction site of a coal fire pushed in the Atlantic Ocean by the high mountains of the power plant 9 Mountain range, this narrow Copper mine 10 country could seem at first sight inhospitable. It is not. Geothermal potential ? 11 In the center of the country, Salar of Lithium 12 the rivers collecting waters of mountains irrigate fertile Energy national commission 13 valleys, which welcome all Rapel Dam 14 sorts of cultures: the corn of course, very present in the Partners 15 Chilean food, the potatoes, the Contacts 16 various cereal, and the fruits, the apples, the peaches, the plums, the avocados, but also the vineyard, the Chilean vine growing taking its international development since around ten years. If the geography of Chile can impress,its inhabitants Class of 2008 will reassure. Of a very big kindness, pleasant and smiling, the persons met during these some days in Chile marked us. In a mixture of Spanish, French and English, our exchanges were extremely enriching for all, both to the professional plan and to the human plan. Chile is a country of the end of the world, and Chileans conquered us.

Mastère OSE - Ecole des Mines de Paris Rue Claude Daunesse - B.P 207 06904 SOPHIA ANTIPOLIS Cedex - FRANCE Tel: +33 4 93 95 74 46 Fax : +33 4 97 15 70 71 - http://mastere-ose.fr - [email protected] 2 MASTÈRE OSE : FIELD TRIP CLASS OF 2008 : CHILE

CHILE

Chilean Energy Chain

Chile is a net energy importing country. There is no big energy resource. For example, the national oil production accounts for only 1,7% of the national demand. In the same protect environment. There is energies by 2010. way, merely all natural gas no nuclear production in Chile, consumption is imported from but debates about technical At present only 2 MW of wind . Four pipelines have feasibility have begun in energy are installed in the been constructed between the 2006. Wind and geothermal Aysen system, but there is two countries. The building energy are also considering, an important potential in the of a new pipeline across but renewable energies are south of the country. The the Andes will strengthen at a low level in the present drawback is the connection interconnection. In 2004 the situation. with the grid. Argentine government has put important restrictions on In Chile energies are classified Little hydro could be a solution its gas exportations in order between conventional and for the supply of electricity in to protect its national market. unconventional energies. rural areas, since it has not But it triggers off an energy The first ones are the fossil been well developed so far. shortage in Chile. Since fuels and big hydropower There are about 110 plants in then, Chile tries to be more (>20MW), while the second the country today. independent from Argentina. ones are biomass, wind, solar, For example the conversion of tidal, and little hydropower. Solar energy in Chile is used the former town gas grid into mainly in the north, where a natural gas grid has been 15% of the new installed the radiation is very high. slowed down, lots of natural capacity in Chile must be The growth of photovoltaic gas plants have been turned renewable and unconventional production is tightened with into diesel plant, and two methane terminals are building near Valparaiso and Antofagasta.

The electric c o n s u m p t i o n exceeds 51573 GWh in 2005, 54% of this produced by h y d r o p o w e r plants. But this h y d r o p o w e r production is still very low. The country uses only 20% of the hydropower potential, mainly installed power (in MW) regarding to the localization and the type of plant in order to

Mastère OSE - Mines ParisTech Rue Claude Daunesse - B.P 207 06904 SOPHIA ANTIPOLIS Cedex - FRANCE http://mastere-ose.fr - [email protected] POST MASTER SPECIALIZED IN ENERGY SYSTEMS OPTIMISATION 3 CHILE telecommunications, radio- broadcasting in the isolated region, lighting systems and local electrification. But despite of the important potential in the north, photovoltaic is insignificant.

Biomass is used in Chile to produce electricity, thanks to cogeneration plants which use the wastes of cellulose production processes. Chile is a good opportunity plants. There are only two for energy firms which want hydropower plants, which It is said that Chile is not ready to start some projects in accounts for 0,37% of the for nuclear production, even if . Indeed it has installed capacity. nuclear energy is considered important energetic needs, its for long term problematic government is democratic and In the Aysen system, the (2025), because of coal economy is stable. installed capacity is 23,41MW, shortage and hydropower made up of 63,86% of thermal capacity saturation. Indeed plants, 27,68% of hydropower the present grid can not run plants and 8,46% of wind with a plant of more than energy. 500MW while nuclear project are profitable only above The Magellanes system is 1000MW. Electrical System

In Chile, there are 4 interconnected electric grids. The SING is between the towns of Arica and of Antofagsta, and accounts for 30,1% of the installed capacity in the country. The SIC is between the towns of Taltal and Chiloé and accounts divided into 3 sub systems: for 69,01% of the installed Punta Arena, Puerto Natales, capacity. The Aysen system is Puerto Porvenir. The installed in the XI region and accounts capacity of these systems is for 0,28% and the Magellanes respectively 58,5MW, 4,2MW system feeds the XII region, and 1,8MW, all of these from accounting for 0,54% of the thermal plant. installed capacity. In the SIC, 60,13% of In the SING system the the installed capacity is production is mainly thermal, hydropower, and 39,87% is with 99,63% of coal plants, produced by coal or fuel oil fuel oil plants and natural plant and combined cycle gas-fueled combined cycle plant.

Mastère OSE - Mines ParisTech Rue Claude Daunesse - B.P 207 06904 SOPHIA ANTIPOLIS Cedex - FRANCE http://mastere-ose.fr - [email protected] 4 MASTÈRE OSE : FIELD TRIP CLASS OF 2008 : CHILE

CHILE

All the energy sector is private in Chile, except the ENAP (national oil of south of Chile). For example the firms in the systems of transmission and distribution are far more numerous than in France. The market is more competitive. The main society of electricity transmission is owned by the Canadian Brookfield Asset Management Inc. This situation prevents from generating economies of scale since there are a lot of little firms. The National Energy Commission is responsible for regulating prices and for deciding energy policies. Reforms in the 80’s have taken politics away from the decisions, by replacing regulation by a competitive market. In 2010, system will become a tender system.

Mastère OSE - Mines ParisTech Rue Claude Daunesse - B.P 207 06904 SOPHIA ANTIPOLIS Cedex - FRANCE http://mastere-ose.fr - [email protected] POST MASTER SPECIALIZED IN ENERGY SYSTEMS OPTIMISATION 5

SANTIAGO Electricity in Chile Monday, March 9th morning

The electric system: balance of energy, installed capacities and evolutions have been pre- sented by M. Sebastian Bern- stein Sr. who was at the head of the Natioanl Energy Com- mission and is now a consult- ant.

The Chilean primary energy consumption balance is:

38% from petroleum products, 21% natural gas and 18% hydroelectric. On the other side, Chile is importing 95% of the oil and 70% of the natural gas it consumes. The Mining industry is the major electricity consumer. The with some diesel engines supply lead to stop all the gas electric system is divided in for support. In 1997, Chile power plants projects. Today, concluded coal and diesel power plant w i t h constitute the majority of the A r g e n t i n a investments in new production a supply capacities. agreement for low cost Electricity market: natural gas. structure and organization.

The National Commission of Energy deals with all electric market regulation and control issues. A spot market exists for intraday adjustments, only for generators. Long term agreements govern trade between generators, industries and retailers. The two interconnected blocks: Consequently, the installed central dispatch is based on in the north with 3.6GW of combined cycle gas power the merit order principle. The installed power and in the plants capacity grew up market is open since the 80’s center with 9.5GW of installed quickly (3.5 GW of installed for generation and distribution power. For the year 2008, capacity). In 2004, during the investments. No constraining the last figure available, the Argentine gas crisis, the cost of rules and access to the market electricity production reached natural gas increased five fold is easy for new operators. 60.5 TWh. Until 1997, the bringing the price of electricity There are incentives for Chilean production mix was to its higher levels in Chile. market-based investors. principally composed of coal This shortage in argentine gas and hydraulic power plants;

Mastère OSE - Mines ParisTech Rue Claude Daunesse - B.P 207 06904 SOPHIA ANTIPOLIS Cedex - FRANCE http://mastere-ose.fr - [email protected] 6 MASTÈRE OSE : FIELD TRIP CLASS OF 2008 : CHILE

SANTIAGO Nueva Renca plant Monday, March 9th AES GENER

Santiago and the North of Chile are mainly fueled by This modification for thermal electrical plants. This the fuel input provokes production is nevertheless differences in terms completed for Santiago by the of performance and more cost-efficient production limits combustion of the hydro-electric power gases temperature. station of Rapel when flows Production costs are are high enough. This in particular five times generally happens from May as high as costs for to September. natural gas. The plant currently disposes Nueva Renca plant which of a global available was commissioned in 1997 is power of 350MW. It is operated by General Electric. generated by a 200MW AES Gener owns the plant combustion turbine and holds a direct contract and a 150MW steam with Chilectra, one of the turbine. With natural most important distributors gas, 40% of the power in Santiago. It was scheduled delivered by the to work with natural gas combustion turbine (propane), but its conception is used to compress allows using fuel oil. In 2004, the gas before its the Argentine economic crisis combustion. The figure led to failures for most natural hereafter presents the gas contracts with Chile. As general operation of a a consequence, Chile had combined cycle. its electric mix completely 1. The fuel is compressed modified and switching to A de-nitrification plant is before being injected in the an oil operating mode was a expected to be built in order combustion turbine. means mode for Nueva Renca to control nitrogen oxides 2. As soon as the fuel to control the crisis. emissions for pollution has been burned, standards. In this regard, the turbo-alternator the plant produces 900t of produces electricity. nitrogen oxides with oil and 3. The thermal 300t with natural gas. energy from c o m b u s t i o n 40 employees work at Nueva gases (600°C) is Renca. Most of them work in transferred to water the control room which runs in heat exchangers all the plant units at distance. and produces high When an incident occurs and pressure steam. cannot be solved by ground 4. High pressure technicians, specialists from vapor is expanded France, England or United through the steam States are called for help. turbine and produces electricity. 5. As a result, low pressure vapor is obtained and is condensed thanks to a multi-stage condenser.

Mastère OSE - Mines ParisTech Rue Claude Daunesse - B.P 207 06904 SOPHIA ANTIPOLIS Cedex - FRANCE http://mastere-ose.fr - [email protected] POST MASTER SPECIALIZED IN ENERGY SYSTEMS OPTIMISATION 7

LA FARFANA Santiago’s sewage Plant

Santiago, Chile, 2 pm: We Sludge treatment arrive to the sewage plant La Farfana under a heavy • Secondary sedimentation: •Superheating: and burning sun. The station 4 tanks (26 m diameter) secondary drying using heat is only 10 years old and is producing sewage water to convert sludge into small known for its modernism and containing very low levels pelletized granules. its size: more than 600 000 of organic material and m3 of wastewaters can be suspended matter; The La Farfana sewage plant treated daily, i.e. half of the • Membrane Bioreactors: has to respect particular total amount of wastewaters 6 tanks (20 m diameter) and severe environmental produced by the 7.4 million combining activated sludge standards imposed by inhabitants of Santiago. Back treatment with a membrane Chilean government. Usually to 1999, the sewage system liquid-solid separation wastewater treatment plants had just been privatized and process; are designed to mimic the only 3% of the Santiago’s • Anaerobic digestion: natural treatment processes wastewaters were treated. 8 digesters (34 m diameter, that occur in the environment, Today, up to 68% are treated 15,5 height) producing biogas; whether that environment is and this rate should a natural water body or the increase to 100% within ground. In Santiago, even the next 2 years. if the water is injected back to the river, the treatment During our tour we has to produce water close were guided by Mister to drinking water. However Laurent Gestin, a French neither the nitrogen nor the expatriate working for phosphorus are removed or the company Degrémont, treated and those elements a subsidiary company cause eutrophication. of Suez Environnement. Degrémont built the plant Concerning the sludge, 450 and is now in charge on tons are produced daily. Unlike behalf of Aguas Andinas, other countries, Chilean law the Chilean owner. La doesn’t allow a final use of Farfana consists of several • Biogas treatment: the sludge as a fertilizer or as treatment chains for the storing the biogas before a fuel. Today the only outlets wastewater and the sludge. upgrading it in order to inject are dumps. Each chain is made up of it through gas pipes ; different steps: • Sludge storage: Nevertheless, the anaerobic 3 tanks (15 200 m3), storing digestion produces a biogas Wastewater treatment the sludge after the anaerobic composed of methane (60%) digestion; and carbon dioxide (40%) • Raking: removing large • Dewatering: which is used in Santiago to settleable solids and floating drying the sludge using 5 produce city gas (H2 and CO) materials; centrifuges; through a gasification process. • De-gritting: 8 chambers (8x30 m) removing the fats, oils, greases, sand, gravels and rocks; • Sedimentation: 16 tanks (20x65 m, 3,95-4,6 m depth) where grease and oils can rise to the surface and be skimmed off; • Surface-aerated basins: 16 tanks (11 000 m3) followed by clarifiers (50 m diameter) degrading the biological content of the sewage using oxygen; • Sanitization: 4 tanks (21 000 m3) where wastewater is disinfected using chlorine. Mastère OSE - Mines ParisTech Rue Claude Daunesse - B.P 207 06904 SOPHIA ANTIPOLIS Cedex - FRANCE http://mastere-ose.fr - [email protected] 8 MASTÈRE OSE : VOYAGE D’ETUDE PROMOTION 2008 : LE CHILI

Santiago Town Gaz injection plant Monday, March 9th afternoon

CH4+H2 O->3H2+CO A reaction of water gas shift converts the hydrogen

obtained in CO and CO2.

CO+H2O -> H2+CO2 The biogas used to fuel in town gas 30 000 consumers on 405 000 that the company serves.

In order to solve the problems in the supply of natural gas, Metrogas is currently involved in the construction of an LNG terminal in Quintero Bay. Chilean energy companies The Metrogaz company serves But from 2004, the distribu- expect much of this terminal, the outskirts of Santiago tion of natural gas will be dif- which will allow Chile to find named the Metropolitan area. ficult with the energy crisis in more independence and more The company was founded Argentina. Following a lack of stability in terms of energy. in 1994 to serve natural gas investment in energy infra- in Chile’s capital, previously structure, combined with a supplied by town gas. The growth rate of the economy town gas, a mixture of hy- relatively high, Argentina is in drogen and carbon monox- a situation of energy shortage. ide, has a low calorific value and was produced by reform- The Argentinean government ing fossil fuels, mainly coal. banned Argentinean compa- nies to sell gas abroad. Nor- Metrogas in 1995 decided to mally Argentinean companies convert the network of the are subject to a delivery ob- city of Santiago in natural gas ligation but they invoke an because it was fuel modern, emergency situation in order less dangerous (carbon mon- to escape their obligations. oxide is a poisonous gas), less polluting and cheaper. On the other hand, Chile sourced exclusively from Ar- gentina. The conversion of the old town gas network to natural gas network has been stopped and there is cur- rently 10% of customers who are supplied with town gas. The town gas, usually formed from coal or oil, is being pro- duced in part from biogas from the plant wastewater treat- ment of Farfana. The Methane of this biogas is converted into Syngas by reacting with

water and a catalyst NiO2.

Mastère OSE - Mines ParisTech Rue Claude Daunesse - B.P 207 06904 SOPHIA ANTIPOLIS Cedex - FRANCE http://mastere-ose.fr - [email protected] POST MASTER SPECIALIZED IN ENERGY SYSTEMS OPTIMISATION 9 Quintero Coal Power Plant AES GENER Tuesday, March 10th: Coal power plants ‘Nuevas Ventanas’

Coal power plants ‘Nuevas Ventan- The project management has During our site’s tour, we visited as’ and ‘Campiche’ building site in mainly been assigned to the Ko- the refrigeration water intake Quintero, along the Chilean coast, rean society Hyundai, in charge facilities, designed to catch the 100 km Northwest of Santiago. in particular of the delivery of the water directly from the ocean. boiler. Just as for the two pre- Desalination by reverse osmosis We were welcomed by Raúl existing units, the coal needed to will be provided through Israeli Eduardo Julio Acuña Gajardo fuel the plant will be delivered by technologies. To avoid corrosion and Emilio Jofre, respectively boat through Quintero’s termi- problems, channelling and evacu- project engineer and EHS man- nal. In order to limit the air pol- ation pipes are made of polymer.

The boiler and the fumes treat- ments’ units were under way of being installed as we were visiting. As the construction felt behind of schedule, project managers had to cope with both deliveries and implementation of new materials.

The emphasis has been put on environment, since AES GENER S.A. funded the nearby river’s shores rehabilitation, with a pe- destrian walkway and trees. Nev- ertheless, some disagreements continue to exist with neighbour- ing fishermen, fishing being one of the main economic motor.

ager for this under-construction lution by coal’s dust, the pile will site of two coal power plants have to be moistened regularly named ‘Nuevas Ventanas’ and and isolated from winds by tarps. ‘Campiche’. Located in the 5th Region Valparaiso, these two units have been calibrated to supply 267 and 270 MW. Their commissioning is scheduled for January 2010 (Nuevas Ventan- as) and May 2011 (Campiche). Then, they should be added to the two units already in use and supplying a 338 MW power.

This site is under the responsibil- ity of AES GENER S.A. This Chil- ean enterprise, subsidiary of the American firm AES Corp. owns to date 16 power plants correspond- ing to a total capacity of 3000 MW. The construction, with a 145 million euros budget, accounts for 3000 persons working on site. Mastère OSE - Mines ParisTech Rue Claude Daunesse - B.P 207 06904 SOPHIA ANTIPOLIS Cedex - FRANCE http://mastere-ose.fr - [email protected] 10 MASTÈRE OSE : FIELD TRIP CLASS OF 2008 : CHILE

CODELCO Copper Mine Wednesday, March 11th: Chuquicamata’s Copper Mines (Operator: Codelco, division Cedelco Norte), .

After a two hours flight to Calama city, we made our way to the mining town of Chuquicamata. Among closed shutters, walled up doors and broken glasses, we discovered a ghost town. The village square is empty and for only sound, the creaking of what was the school’s swings…. The reason is, in February 2007, the 20 000 inhabitants have been forced to leave the town to Calama city for health purposes. The mines’ exploitation rejects toxic gaz.

Fortunately, we’ve been reassured by the arrival of our charming guide, Paola, who conducted us to the former groceries of the town transformed into an office. mine of the world, with one of the 600 000tonnes of rocks Inside, she explained us kilometer deep for a few extracted per day goes through the mines’ organization and kilometers of circumference. the process. The sulfates are history: Its extraction products are the first brought to the crushers by The mining complex of copper sulfates. The process trucks (120 tones of capacity). Chuquicamata was first has been explained to us during The grinded rock is then worked by the Guggenheim the visit of the installations; it moved towards treadmills to family in 1910, before being is a 14-days pyrometallurgy the water dome. It’s placed nationalized at 100% under process extremely costly. The into big chemical baths that Salvador Allende presidency in site works 24 hours on 24 with allows the extraction of the 1971. The site is now formed a staff of 200 people. molybdenum and the copper of 3 mines in activity: Minart, from the sediments. Minachuqui and Mina Sur. A Armed with our mining fourth on is planned, Calama equipment (oxygen mask, After this, the product contains mine. security glasses …), we only 33% of copper; the four On site, the deposit is on discovered the installations passages into the successive a fault which takes 2 more and the fabrication processes. fours allow to increase the centimeters per day. The Every day, explosions split purity to 99,7%. Then, the mineral has two parts, the the rock to allow the mine’s obtained copper plates have ground layer, comprised of enlargement. Only one third an electrolysis to reach a copper oxide, and the other purity of 99,99%. layer, made of copper sulfate. Two processes for two All the mine’s wastes are structures: conserved for a possible future recycling. They talk about a o For the Minart and future bacteriologic process Mina sites, rich in oxides, that may come out in a few the extraction is made years. by hydrometallurgy. The From this, 800 000 tones of mineral is first disposed on a copper and 20 000 tones of polyethylene cloth, and then molybdenum are exported sprayed of sulfuric acid in each year. order to extract the copper. This lixiviation is a 70 days We thank the company process and is quite cheap. Codelco for their welcome and o The Minachuqui site this impressing visit. is the biggest open-cast Mastère OSE - Mines ParisTech Rue Claude Daunesse - B.P 207 06904 SOPHIA ANTIPOLIS Cedex - FRANCE http://mastere-ose.fr - [email protected] POST MASTER SPECIALIZED IN ENERGY SYSTEMS OPTIMISATION 11

El TATIO Geothermal potential ? Thursday, March 12th: Gaysers, Atacama Desert

El Tatio Geysers are located in the middle of the Andes on the , in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile. These geysers are at 4300 m high in the region of Antofagasta, between volcanoes Linzor Tatio (5610m) and Cerro Linzor (4380m), 90 km north of , and about 125 km to the east of Calama. The name “El Tatio” comes from the word “el tata” which means “grandfather” in the Atacama. According to local legend, the volcano El Tatio about 10 km south-east of the geothermal area, protects the Atacama people. According to legend, the volcano gave them the strength of geysers for several centuries. tertiary period. geysers and heat sources in the area of El Tatio. These They are located nearby We went on this site, on are the warmest waters of Atacama Desert and the village Thursday March 12th 2009 Rio Salado River, whose flow San Pedro de Atacama. With at the dawn so that the varies from 250 to 500 liters temperature difference per second depending the between outdoor air (-8 ° season. Most sources reach 86 C) and geysers (86 ° C) is °C, the boiling temperature of conducive to observe the water at 4300m high. formation of chimneys of steam. Seven deep boring from 870 to 1820 meters were done The highest eruption observed between 1969 and 1974 to has been around six meters exploit the geothermal heat in height. The average geyser and to feed with electricity eruption height at El Tatio the mine of copper of is about 75 centimeters. El Chuquicamata and the city Tatio Geyser Field contains of Calama located a hundred approximately 8 percent of kilometers from there. the world’s geysers. It also remains an old The water from rainfall and experimental geothermal snowmelt percolates down power on the southeastern about twenty miles south- plateau geysers of El Tatio, east of El Tatio. It follows a abandoned in 1974, following system of faults oriented technical problems. north-west / south-east, sinks and flows underground Equipment for the desalination over 80 active geysers, El Tatio for fifteen years. At a speed of of water has also been is the largest geyser field in about one kilometer per year, established, but for technical the southern hemisphere and the water passes through reasons these facilities are now the third largest field in the different layers land. totally abandoned. The idea world. The geothermal area is has recently been revived by located in a depression north- Between 800 and 1000 m the Chilean government and south, 7 km wide and 20 km deep, water is trapped and has to face with heavy public long, which was formed during heated to reach 260 °C. Only opinion resistance due to the the folding of the Andes to the a small part it, goes back to touristic value the geyser field the northwest to form surface represents. Mastère OSE - Mines ParisTech Rue Claude Daunesse - B.P 207 06904 SOPHIA ANTIPOLIS Cedex - FRANCE http://mastere-ose.fr - [email protected] 12 MASTÈRE OSE : FIELD TRIP CLASS OF 2008 : CHILE

ATACAMA SALAR Reserves of Lithium and then pumped to th evaporation ponds, where Thursday, March 12 : Salar de Atacama, Atacama Desert solar evaporation produces a We went to the Salar de Over the years, a salt deposit fractioned precipitation and Atacama Thursday the 12th with a maximum depth of concentration of these salts. of March. We visited this 1450 meters was formed on These salts are extracted to site because it’s a lithium this sunken central block. undergo grinding, floating, This saline deposit drying and pilling processes to originally from the obtain potassium chloride and precipitation of salts potassium sulfate. In the final and minerals washed ponds of the system there are from the hills by the brines rich in lithium or boron. water flowing from Brine rich in lithium is carried Andes toward this to production plants outside depression. the Salt Flat to continue their In the past, during processing, while brine rich highly humid seasons, extensive superficial lagoons were formed and when its waters evaporated the salts precipitated to the bottom. In drier reserve. So it integrates with periods, the salts crystallized an article of the book which on the surface due to the we are writing: Will non-fossil evaporation of brine from the energies face the mineral Salt Flat core. shortages like lithium? The Salar de Atacama is the largest salt flat in Chile. It A salt and mineral treasure is located 55 km south of The Salt Flat core is mainly San Pedro de Atacama, is composed of halite (NaCl). surrounded by mountains. To The pores and cavities the east is enclosed by the are filled with brine with main chain of the Andes, while high amounts of sodium, to the west lies a secondary potassium, magnesium, mountain range of the Andes lithium and boron. The brine called Cordillera de Domeyko. is used by companies that Large volcanoes dominate process non metallic minerals the landscape, including to obtain potassium sulfate, the , , potassium chloride, boric acid in boron goes to a production Aguas Calientes and the and lithium. plant specialized in boric acid. Láscar, one of the most active Salar de Atacama Process The products obtained from volcanoes in Chile. Some Outline these processes are used areas of the Salar de Atacama The brine is extracted to manufacture fertilizers are part of Los Flamencos through pumping wells or items for chemical and National Reserve. pharmaceutical industries.

The Salar de Atacama is at an altitude of 2,300 meters. The basin covers an area of about 3,000 km2 with a salt nucleus covering 1,400 km2.

Mastère OSE - Mines ParisTech Rue Claude Daunesse - B.P 207 06904 SOPHIA ANTIPOLIS Cedex - FRANCE http://mastere-ose.fr - [email protected] POST MASTER SPECIALIZED IN ENERGY SYSTEMS OPTIMISATION 13

NATIONAL ENERGY COMMISSION

Mastère OSE Conference Commission Friday, March 13th: National Energy Commission Nationale de l’Energie Friday 13th, all well dressed lead on storage technologies and full of energy, we arrive as Nicolas pinpointed before done considering the goal in front of the National Energy Alexandre could conclude on of, for instance, one third Commission of Santiago, the work that will be published of electricity demand by ready to face everything! next September. photovoltaic by 2010, and During 20 minutes, our brilliant looking if we could reach it. We presenters explained the five Questions were of great try to evaluate all the reserve spectators the research we interest for all of us, as it in their integrity (and such have been working on since was the first time our works estimations are done, without the beginning of our Mastère. and ideas where confronted taking into account the price Will non-fossil energies face with someone else. As we had they will be available at). mineral shortages? understood from the very first Market price was considered day with Sebastian’s father as an output of the problem Paul and Audrey gave an presentation of energy policy and the curve established overview of on a long term, the energetic considering a landscape of general trend and our century: not occasional traditional fossil fluctuations. fuel, becoming scarcer, will let One question was the key role also about the to renewable storage technology energies. But we we presented. want to be sure Although it was they are indeed neither the only r e n e w a b l e , one nor the most even concerning important one in required minerals, term of market which could face share or future shortages sooner development, we than one usually choose to illustrate thinks. We want to our work with lead know if objectives batteries–and not settled in term hydraulic solution of renewable energies would in Chile, market plays a key for instance- because as be achievable in a long term role for experts. far as we know, it is the view. solution that presents the The main question was how greatest risk of leakage (due They let Anne-Laure and Elodie will market responses to the to lead consumption). But explain the scenario of the demand? Indeed, for oil, we we continue our research on IIASA (International Institute observed in the past that an the others and only a part of for Applied System Analysis) increase in market prices storage need was attributed we choose to base our study conducted to more investments to lead batteries. on and set the bases of the in prospection and discovery Hubbert curve approach we of new fields, postponing the We thank M. Fernandez and M. developed further. leakage. Market response is Gamboa and their colleagues a key element to evaluate for their interest and the Guillaume was in charge ultimate resources. And we useful advices and contacts of photovoltaic prospect, need to know the amount of he gave us. drawing attention to indium mineral available for the area shortages that may occur if of Hubbert curve. developing CIGS technology. The concern was the same for In fact, our approach was

Mastère OSE - Mines ParisTech Rue Claude Daunesse - B.P 207 06904 SOPHIA ANTIPOLIS Cedex - FRANCE http://mastere-ose.fr - [email protected] 14 MASTÈRE OSE : FIELD TRIP CLASS OF 2008 : CHILE

RAPEL DAM Hydro-electric Dam Saturday, March 14th: Rapel Hydraulic Dam

does not only aim at delivering power, it also prevents the underneath More on technical regions from characteristics? overflowing waters Here we come…! 377 MW and flooding. And installed, five Francis turbines the protection is requiring a minimum flow of valuable, as record 120 m3/s to be started. flows happen to 7 monophasic transformers, reach 9000m3/s associated in two pairs of every thousand three, the last one kept in years. Last in date? case of a broken appliance. 1982 registered 8000m3/s of To understand the strength water successfully and majesty one can feel from channeled. the dam, we can mention an impressive fact from its Our guide gave construction in 1960. In order us a rich and to canalize the water, a 1200 complete overview feet tunnel was dug into the of the place: rock. We saw its entry and it is the equipment indeed a giant’s work! was thoroughly explained and We deeply thank the team that received us and provided Located 75 miles south west described during us with so many interesting Santiago, the majestic Rapel an uncommon walk around insights. Its kindness and good Dam (ENDESA) contains the turbines, generators, and high mood will also be sincerely river of the same name. You voltage power lines. remembered! cannot keep yourself from holding your breath when you first discover the (indeed!) breath-taking view: the hydraulic dam is gigantic. Inside the upstream pool, around 700 millions cubic meters of water are gently resting, waiting for their gravitational energy to be converted into electricity. This electricity can be produced very quickly and it therefore has a strategic position in the energy mix of the region. In case of black out, administrations, prisons and hospitals will be provided with emergency power coming from the dam. But the Rapel dam Mastère OSE - Mines ParisTech Rue Claude Daunesse - B.P 207 06904 SOPHIA ANTIPOLIS Cedex - FRANCE http://mastere-ose.fr - [email protected] POST MASTER SPECIALIZED IN ENERGY SYSTEMS OPTIMISATION 15

Partners

Acknowledgements Partners

The Mastère OSE wishes to express its most sincere gratitude to all those having contributed to the organization of this trip.

M. Sebastian BERNSTEIN Jr., from METROGAS and alumnus from the Mastère OSE from the Class of 2005, for all the organisation of this field trip. This trip couldn’t be possible without him. As well as JUANA for her great welcome at Aculeo which will stay in our mind for a long time. AES GENER M. Sebastian BERNSTEIN Sr., for his great welcome and his brilliant conference on the Chilean electricity situation.

Mrs. Monica GIMPEL, from the Economical Mission of the French Embassy in Chile for having organized us the meeting with the National Energy Commission and her National precious advices. Mission Economique Energy de l’Ambassade de Commission Mme Bernardita Escobar from France au Chili the Travel Security agency for her efficiency in the logistic organisation of this trip.

All the persons that have been requested to organize our visits.

We have been very impressed with the high level of the presentations and the speakers who have been most competent and made themselves available.

Mastère OSE - Mines ParisTech Rue Claude Daunesse - B.P 207 06904 SOPHIA ANTIPOLIS Cedex - FRANCE http://mastere-ose.fr - [email protected] 16 MASTÈRE OSE : FIELD TRIP CLASS OF 2008 : CHILE

CONTACTS

Informations CONTACTS SANTIAGO SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA MINES PARISTECH MASTÈRE OSE CODELCO Rue Claude Daunesse B.P. 207 Mme. Cristina Nieves MESINA ABADAL 06904 SOPHIA ANTIPOLIS cedex M. Sebastian BERNSTEIN Sr. Communication Direction Tel : +33 4 93 95 74 46 Consultant [email protected] Fax : +33 4 97 15 70 71 GENER AES Mme. Caterina ESCALANTE ZAMORANO Nueva Renca Communication Direction [email protected] M. Alfonso PACHO [email protected] Mme. Paula ALVARADO Public Relation Unit M. Marcelo RUBIO [email protected] [email protected] RAPEL M. Orlando BAHAMONDEZ Contact : [email protected] ENDESA CHILE M. Gilles Guerassimoff [email protected] M. Manuel Antonio ALVARES ROSALES GENER AES [email protected] ELECTRICA VENTANAS M. Juan Alberto OLIVA VASQUEZ M. Raul Edouardo Julio ACUNA GAJARDO [email protected] Team leader [email protected] SANTIAGO

M. Emilio JOFRE J. MISSION ECONOMIQUE DE Risk prevention L’AMBASSADE DE FRANCE AU CHILI [email protected] Mme. Monica GIMPEL M. Alfonso PACHO Attachée Commerciale [email protected] [email protected]

AGUAS Andinas M. Xavier FREVAL de COATPARQUET Station de la FARFANA Conseiller Commercial [email protected] M. Esteban AREVALO MEDEL Operations Manager TRAVEL SECURITY [email protected] Mme. Bernardita ESCOBAR M. Laurent GESTIN Travel Agency Deputy General Manager [email protected] [email protected]

METROGAS

M. Sebastian BERNSTEIN Jr. [email protected]

M. Rob Stirling [email protected]

M. Klaus Lührmann [email protected]

COMMISSION NATIONALE DE L’ENERGIE GOUVERNEMENT DU CHILI

M. Ignacio FERNANDEZ AMUNATEGUI International Affairs Coordinator [email protected]

M. Marcel SILVA GAMBOA Studies Coordinator [email protected]

Mastère OSE - Mines ParisTech Rue Claude Daunesse - B.P 207 06904 SOPHIA ANTIPOLIS Cedex - FRANCE http://mastere-ose.fr - [email protected]