The Veladero mine is progressing with the removal of infrastructure that is no longer part of its active operation. Between January and May of this year, it completed the dismantling of its original construction camp, built in 2004 to house over 2,500 workers during the project’s initial phase.
By Panorama Minero
Instead of demolishing the structures, the operational decision was to carefully dismantle and recover the modules, reducing waste and enabling reuse. As a result, 100% of the recovered modules have been repurposed:
• 18 were donated to families in Jáchal affected by climate emergencies.
• 16 were transferred to the San Juan Ministry of Health for the installation of rural health posts.
• 90 modules were auctioned to private companies, which will manage their transport and refurbishment.
The work was carried out with local labor by San Juan-based company FeyRo, employing 20 people from the Iglesia department. Additionally, more than 45% of the land formerly occupied by the camp has already been rehabilitated: 1.15 out of a total of 2.5 hectares.
Waste Management With Productive Outcomes
The recovery of the camp modules is part of a broader strategy to reuse materials as part of Veladero’s ongoing partial closure process. At the same time, the operation maintains active recycling programs:
• Between 15,000 and 20,000 kilos of plastic per month (bottles, big bags, piping, geomembranes) are sent to Reciclados Plásticos SRL in Pocito, where they are processed into hoses, pots, bags, and other products.
• 1,389 tons of used tires have been delivered to INDRAM (PITAR, Rivadavia) for conversion into industrial rubber pellets.
• 165 tons of recyclable materials have been sent to the municipal waste treatment facility in Iglesia.
In terms of industrial metals, Veladero partnered with ACSCA to reprocess 988 tons of manganese, used to manufacture mechanical spare parts. Another agreement with TECK led to the production of over 200 components from recovered steel.
Operational Stage Focused on Resource Efficiency
Although the company’s statement coincided with World Environment Day, the key information lies in the practical application of material recovery strategies during a partial closure phase, with traceable reuse and clearly defined destinations.
According to Cecilia Besednjak, Environmental Manager at Veladero, the approach aims to “reduce waste and turn idle infrastructure into useful resources for other s
