SQM is the first mining company to be awarded the Clean Activity Seal, which certifies its commitment to moving towards carbon neutrality

One of SQM’s main goals is moving towards carbon neutrality. The company is looking to reach that goal through specific actions such as being the first mining company to be awarded the Clean Activity Seal by the Energy Sustainability Agency. This entity recognizes organizations that promote decreased use of polluting fuel consumption and Co2e emissions in highway cargo transport within their production chain.

SQM Senior Vice President of Corporate Services José Miguel Berguño mentioned that being part of the Clean Activity program affirms the company’s interest in contributing to reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions caused by ground transport. This commitment is shared by the company’s transportation partners, with which it maintains a close connection.

“Today we are very proud to have been awarded the Clean Activity Seal, which certifies that we are the first mining company to commit to carbon neutrality through the efforts of our transporters and the cargo movement in which we engage. This is undoubtedly a first step that is very closely aligned with our Sustainability Plan, the comprehensive development model, and a way to contribute to the sustainable development of Chile and its communities,” the executive noted.

Matías Vera Zurita, the coordinator of the Clean Activity Program, explained that this voluntary national initiative certified the company in the category of Cargo Generator, as it moves 50% of its cargo on fleets of trucks that have the entity’s seal. He explains that the goal is “to decrease fuel consumption in operations and cargo movement in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and local pollutants that impact human health, making them more sustainable and reducing the environmental impact of product transport.”

Goals and innovation

This certification recognizes actions that are part of the portfolio of initiatives promoted by SQM’s Ground Transportation Area, where they are implementing various pilot programs designed to test new technologies that contribute to improving cargo transport efficiency. The main projects that have been executed to date are the pilot for the truck aerodynamics improvement system, reduced wait times and increased productivity (idle reduction), installation of a telemetry system and the construction of a fuel consumption monitoring platform, and driver training programs to improve their performance.

SQM National Logistics Manager Rodrigo Jasen confirmed this, noting, “The Clean Activity Program invites us to review our logistics processes to understand how our cargo behaves during transportation and to be able to take steps to use fuel more efficiently in order to reduce our emissions. We have a fairly extensive fleet in the Tarapacá and Antofagasta regions. We transport over 4.5 million tons per year and travel millions of kilometers. As such, seeking out actions that move in the direction of energy efficiency, decreased diesel consumption, and the reduction of CO2e emissions is crucial.”

The executive added that in addition to working with a focus on safe cargo transport, it is key for the team to promote collaboration with strategic transportation network suppliers and to move towards the next steps and goals that will allow them to move towards carbon neutrality through the various initiatives that SQM is promoting as part of its Sustainability Plan.