On April 2, a powerful earthquake in the north of Chile reminded the public about serious seismic activities in this part of South America. The project of the Sierra Gorda mine responds to this challenge.
Chile is risked by the natural seismic hazard. The project of the Sierra Gorda mine has always taken this into account and was designed to meet the Chilean law regulating that issue. Recently however a new, more rigorous regulation in Chile was adopted. It effected in the modification of the mine’s project and raising expenditures on increased amount of steel and concrete, as well as larger scope of work. Adapting the project to the new law has also translated into a significant growth of costs at Sierra Gorda. The latest dramatic events prove that raising expenditures to guarantee a safe, stable and undisturbed production was worth it.
Regulation on the seismic strengthening of constructions is all also present in the Polish legal system. It regards mostly mining damage areas, and is well known to and applied by KGHM in Poland. All investors are obliged to observe and implement regulations that generate costs but aim at strengthening constructions – no matter whether they build a family house, an industrial plant or a public utility building.