Extract, produce, and discard are what the linear economy, in which we have lived until now, is mainly about. The linear economy has done a lot of damage to the environment since it has produced gigantic amounts of waste that have not had a second use and are polluting the planet. Faced with this problem and the concern about climate change, the trend of the "circular economy," an economic model interrelated with sustainability in which it is sought that the value of resources, materials, and products be maintained in the economy for as long as possible and waste generation be minimized, has emerged.

The adoption of the circular economy (CE) at all levels: micro (products, companies, and consumers), meso (eco-industrial parks), and macro (cities and countries) is of the utmost importance, since achieving the desired sustainable development depends on everyone. Industries, the main actors in the economic growth of countries, play a very important role in the transition to the circular economy, so it is necessary that all of them adopt circular economy practices. One of the main industries in Peru that has already begun its transition to the circular economy is the mining industry, which is carrying out initiatives to achieve better management of mining waste, mainly tailings, in different mines throughout the country.

San Rafael Mine

This mine is located in the Puno region and is run by the mining company Minsur. In San Rafael, the B2 project is being executed, which consists of recovering tin from the tailings accumulated for decades in the mine through various metallurgical processes. Thanks to this project, Minsur will have the opportunity to reverse the declining production at San Rafael since the reutilization of its tailings will allow it to recover 5,000 fine tons of tin per year for a period of nine years.

Marcona Mine 

Located in the Ica region and operated by the mining company Shouxin Peru, Marcona has been processing 20 000 MT/day of mine tailings to concentrate copper and zinc since 2014. In addition, in 2020, Shouxin Peru signed an environmental certification to process tailings from mines operated by other mining companies and concentrate copper, zinc, and iron. This project will last 16 years (2022–2037) and is planned to process 11.06 Mt of tailings.

Investigations

Green Metallurgy Technologies SRL

Green Metallurgy Technologies SRL created a technological kit for the integrated treatment of tailings with the goal of decontaminating them of their oxidized and sulfurous nature in an integrated manner using an active chemical remediation method that is based on the use of remediating agents that obtain construction aggregates (bricks) from the tailings.

Carlos Villachica et al. (2021)

Carlos Villachica is a Peruvian researcher who, together with his team, proposes the electric vacuum furnace (HEVA - Horno Eléctrico al Vacío) technology to produce lime and commercial CO2 from neutral tailings with high carbonate content. This would reduce carbon dioxide emissions generated by lime production in Peru. The lime produced from this process can be used in acid water treatment (neutralization) and Zn flotation. In addition, the CO2 would be used in carbon fertilization.

Public policies

The design and implementation of a regulatory framework to achieve our transition to the circular economy are also of great importance.

Supreme Decree 003-2020-PRODUCE: Roadmap Towards a Circular Economy in the Industry Sector

The government approved the Roadmap towards a Circular Economy in the Industry Sector, an initiative that was developed jointly with the Ministry of Production (Produce) and the Ministry of Environment (Minam), in order to boost economic growth and inclusive and sustainable industrial development.

Peruvian Pact for a Circular Economy

The Peruvian Pact for a Circular Economy is a multi-sector initiative carried out as part of the State's comprehensive intervention proposal to promote the country's transition towards this new model of environmentally responsible production and consumption.

Vision of mining in Peru to 2030

By 2030, mining in Peru will be inclusive, as it will be integrated socially, environmentally, and territorially within a framework of good governance and sustainable development. Its vision is to promote the CE.

The circular economy allows us to achieve sustainable growth as it increases the efficiency of energy and raw material consumption, limits greenhouse gas emissions, minimizes waste and pollution, protects and restores ecosystems, and contributes to climate change adaptation. Thanks to the circular economy, we do not have to choose between economic development and environmental protection, as it enables us to achieve both. CE has the potential to bring considerable economic, social, and environmental benefits to both developed and developing countries. Industries as well as society as a whole have a duty to initiate and consolidate their transition to the circular economy. Although the Peruvian mining industry has already started its transition path, it still has a long way to go.

Reference materials:

Bustinza E. (October 28, 2020). La economía circular en la industria minera peruana: desafíos y oportunidades. Energiminas. https://energiminas.com/la-economia-circular-en-la-industria-minera-peruana-desafios-y-oportunidades/

Julca D. (2022). La economía circular en la minería peruana. CEPAL.

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