Being a strategic partner in the sustainable transformation of mining globally has become ME Elecmetal's greatest motivation towards its clients and partners, and to this end, it has tackled different fronts:
- Global presence and proximity to clients: The company operates production plants in Chile, Peru, the USA, China, and South Africa, as well as joint ventures in China and Zambia, creating MELong Teng and Chile with ESEL. Along with this, it has a commercial presence in more than 40 countries, ensuring proximity, reliability, and agile response to its clients.
- Integral Solutions for mining clients: Through its ME FIT approach, ME Elecmetal delivers high-value comprehensive solutions covering engineering, design and manufacturing of parts, as well as grinding media, performance simulation and monitoring; maintenance and continuous improvement. It also highlights the use of advanced technologies such as digital twins (Digital Twin), predictive analytics systems, and the full range of businesses linked to Circularity and Digital Solutions.
- Alignment with clients’ Sustainability strategies: ME Elecmetal’s sustainability roadmap is closely linked to its clients’ strategies, helping them to:
- Reduce CO₂ emissions (Scope 3 for mining companies) thanks to an energy intensity per ton produced below the steel manufacturers’ average, plus the use of 95% recycled steel and the market launch of products like CO₂ Lite with a 60% emissions reduction compared to a conventional grinding ball.
- Increase their circularity rate through waste management and valorization of by-products such as grinding ball scrap.
- Improve transparency and reputation in environmental management by working with a fully certified supplier.
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Thanks to its production and management technology, ME Elecmetal has achieved:
- 100% of the Metallic Raw Material (MRM) used to produce the annual output is recovered and reused by clients and third parties.
- 95% of steel foundry production in own plants comes from recycled MRM.
- An integrated energy matrix, with 41.64% electrical energy and 33.76% of that supplied by renewable sources.
- Extremely low water consumption intensity with 98.36% of captured water recirculated.
- Greenhouse gas (GHG) emission intensity of 1.19 tCO2eq/t in scopes 1 and 2 worldwide, placing the company well below the global average.
- 75% of waste generated worldwide is ultimately managed, representing a key opportunity to increase and advance towards zero waste across all our facilities.
- Triple certification: quality management, environmental, and occupational health and safety management.
The main strengths of the 2024 management, reflected in the report, are presented below:
- Commitment from Senior Management: With active involvement from the board chairman, the sustainability commitment has gone hand in hand with ME Elecmetal’s historic performance in 2024, driven by the global mining boom and the launch of key products such as CO₂ Lite, a high-quality steel grinding ball with a carbon footprint more than 60% lower. Additionally, the Footprint Alliance was consolidated together with TTM, an innovative grinding ball recycling initiative.
- Environmental Achievements: various processes with environmental impact were formalized, such as:
- Recovery and recycling: 95% of steel used in own plants comes from recycled Metallic Raw Material (MRM), and 100% of this material is recovered directly or indirectly.
- Water management: Minimal use of water resources, with a recirculation rate of 98.36%.
- Energy and emissions: 41.6% of the energy matrix is electric, and 33.76% comes from renewable sources. GHG emission intensity (Scopes 1 and 2) was only 1.19 tCO₂e/t, well below the global average.
- Zero Waste Goal: The Rancagua plant aims for "zero waste to landfill" by 2040.
- Innovation and Circular Economy: notable innovations include:
- CO₂ Lite: Launched in Chile with Antofagasta Minerals as the first client. This solution enables real-time emissions measurement and immediate reduction strategies.
- Grinding ball recycling plant: Joint venture with TTM funded by CORFO, with capacity to recycle 120,000 tons annually.
- Digital models: Award-winning projects such as SAG Digital Twin and Ore Sorting that optimize operations, predict failures, and recover metallic by-products.
- Diversity and multiculturalism: Presence of 20 nationalities. Although 11% of the workforce are women, initiatives are implemented to attract female talent, especially in STEM areas.
As a result of this sustainable management with a strong focus on innovation, ME Elecmetal was awarded in five categories at the Innova Claro competition, including "Most Innovative National Supplier" according to Phibrand 2024.
“This year we achieved a historic performance in the metallurgical business, where we have been able to capitalize on the favorable global mining cycle driven by the development of electromobility, renewable energies, and technological advances, areas to which ME Elecmetal contributes by providing comprehensive solutions to meet the needs of its mining clients”
