Тhe project of ¨Minera del Altiplano S.A¨ in the North of Argentina

One of the definitions which characterizes the Virtual Pipeline system is that it has three classic application instances: populations, satellite stations and industries.

In practice, this system has shown that there are no limitations regarding these instances and that its application may be adapted to all the needs and problems which may arise.

For this reason, today we put forward the project Minera del Altiplano S.A. which started operations in the North of Argentina, in a far-off place where the resources are scarce and the means constitute a challenge to the geography of the place.

This mine is located in Salta province very near Catamarca province at 4,000 metres above sea level, an arid and mountainous area where the temperature is about 35ºC in the summer and -35ºC in the winter.
The location of this place off the beaten track, where the nearest town is located 500 km away, implies a bigger effort and to get the necessary resources is very hard.
The project consists of a mother plant or compression plant (Salar de Pocitos in Salta province) and the daughter plant (called Fénix located on the border between Salta and Catamarca provinces)

Daniel Díaz Chávez is the operational manager and he is in charge of the system in this place.  That is the reason why we interviewed him and he told us all about this particular project:

1. Before the Virtual Pipeline, how did you manage to generate the necessary energy, considering the complications of the mine location and the scarcity of resources?

Our industrial project was thought out to use a special liquid fuel, which in economic and technical terms, is between fuel oil and gas oil.  We did not have a better option and we knew about the operational complexity both logistically and functionally speaking.  We operated this system for ten years but the pressure to lower costs, so as not to lose competitiveness, made us use for the last ten years only fuel oil for our boilers, which in our case, are the most demanding from the energetic viewpoint.

2. How did you learn about the virtual pipeline system?

We knew the system through specialized newspapers and magazines.  Since laying a traditional pipeline involved investing huge amounts of money, we started to analyze the possibility to use a virtual pipeline.  We put forward this idea to the headquarters as a second option and it ended up being a priority.

3. Tell us briefly, what are the system characteristics which made you decide on applying a virtual pipeline?

The urgent need to lower cost in energetic terms, a strong element in the total equation, and the fact that this system required a lower investment compared with a traditional pipeline were the main reasons to decide on facing this real challenge.  The experience which Argentina and especially which Galileo had in this type of systems was very important. 

4. How was the implementation of this system, taking into account that you could get to know the projects that are being carried out in Cordoba and Buenos Aires provinces, as regards your own Project, the subject matter, the geography of the place, the means, the project characteristics, etc?

At about 4,000 metres above sea level, in the Puna Salteño-Catamarqueña and being 145 km long, it is an unprecedented challenge and we should not underestimate the magnitude of this project.
Because of the geography of the place, part of the semi-trailers was reinforced in several aspects:   their mechanical resistance especially in the lower part changing spring packages and reinforcing the towing systems and the fixations of the piping systems, changing the grips, using another type of absorbers, etc.  It was teamwork between our technicians and Galileo permanent advice.  Even so, we are in the learning process since transporting 55,000 Nm3 per day to our Fénix industrial complex takes six daily trips using full-trailers, which are special models of transportation especially authorized for this mine.  

5. Although there was a long process to implement the system in the area, the system was adapted and overcame the implications of the place and the mine.  How did you experience that process? 

We are experiencing the start-up of a complex transportation system due to the characteristics of the area and because the operation is very special.  To ensure the integrity of the units, there is a road building company working constantly on the road maintenance and an agreement with Vialidad de Salta was entered into.  However, the road is not paved and we are in La Puna. Now we need to wait for at least one year to find the possible weaknesses which an activity of this magnitude usually has in order to correct them and ensure the sustainable success of this project.   For example, we have been through the summer rains and now we will have to overcome the winter snow.

6. How did you assess and how do you assess the impact of the investment required for the Virtual Pipeline, in comparison with the method used by the company to generate energy before the application of this system?  

There is no doubt that the impact is very important.  Operating with natural gas compared with any liquid fuel implies reducing costs considerably, to the extent that the operational cost of the logistics may be afforded with all the complexity it carries.