16th to 20th October 2023, the Norwegian team of experts visited the Andina Mining Project (Codelco). But we also hosted a workshop on safety and met authorities and important stakeholders in Chile. All part of a colloboration to share knowledge and experience between Norway and Chile.
Photo: Arild Petter Sovik, Norwegian Tunnelling Network (visit to Andina Mining Project (3.700 msl), Codelco, 18th October 2023)
At this visit we followed up the dialog on how principles of Norwegian tunnelling can be implemented in Chilean projects and discussed implementing cost-effective tunnelling in the mining industry through innovation projects (pilots). We also presented the Norwegian approach in planning of road infrastructure and discussed new ideas for Route 7 in the southern part of Chile (the Carretera Austral), including use of long subsea tunnels.
A working group, consisting of relevant experts from Norway and Chile is investigating how principles of Norwegian tunnelling can be implemented in Chilean projects.
Photo: Arild Petter Sovik, Norwegian Tunnelling Network (visit to Andina Mining Project (3.700 msl), Codelco, 18th October 2023)
Technical notes are delivered and we will carry out a full report, forming the basis for a pilot in the chilean tunnelling industry. We discussed the possibilities of a pilot project in a Codelco project and presented the Norwegian approach, using examples and recent experiences from Norway.
In October, we had also meetings with the Ministry of Public Works (MOP), The Council for Infrastructure Policies (CPI) and The Inter American Development Bank (IDB) and discussed long and short term infrastructure planning. We gave input on what we see as highly relevant alternatives for new connections for Route 7 in the southern part of Chile (the Carretera Austral), which also include the use of long subsea tunnels and effective ferry connections.
After a technical visit in March 2023, the Norwegian team have been working with the findings and new alternatives, south of Puerto Montt. In the meetings in October, we presented our findings, and showed relevant subsea tunnel project examples from Norway, but also how the Norwegian Ministry of Transport investigate and prepare alternatives for a political process and long term planning.