José Joaquín Jara
Professor José Joaquín Jara Donoso from the Department of Mining Engineering has been awarded the project “Evaluation of the Business Potential Associated with Cobalt Mineralization and Other Strategic Minerals for the Energy Transition in Prospects and Operations of Small-Scale Miners in the Atacama Region,” which seeks to strengthen the role of small-scale mining in the energy transition.
The project, which involves the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile as the executing institution, the University of Atacama as a collaborating entity, and ENAMI as the sponsoring institution, aims to improve the technical and economic viability as well as the sustainability of small-scale mining producers in the region.
The proposal arises in response to various challenges faced by this productive sector, such as limited knowledge of available resources, restricted access to processing technologies, a lack of specialized human capital, and socio-environmental and financing constraints, all of which have reduced their competitiveness and value-generation capacity.
The research encompasses five stages, ranging from the survey of prospects with non-traditional mineralization potential to the development of strategic recommendations for ENAMI based on a detailed analysis of selected districts. Expected outcomes include economic-geological maps, geochemical and mineralogical characterization reports, and a simplified economic model to assess the business feasibility of these resources.
This project aligns with the strategic objectives of the Regional Fund for Productivity and Development (FRPD), promoting efficiency in the mining sector, diversification toward minerals for electromobility, and the development of technical capabilities through collaboration among universities, businesses, and local communities.
