Teck Quebrada Blanca runs on 100% renewable electricity under AES Andes partnership, strengthening Chile’s “green copper” push

The Tarapacá copper operation now meets more than 2,000 GWh of annual electricity demand with fully renewable supply—about 2% of Chile’s total power consumption—under a long-term agreement with AES Andes.

Teck Quebrada Blanca (QB) and AES Andes marked a major milestone for Chile’s mining sector and power system: the copper operation in the Tarapacá Region has reached 100% clean and renewable electricity supply, covering an annual consumption of more than 2,000 GWh—equivalent to roughly 2% of Chile’s total electricity demand.

The certificate ceremony was held at AES Andes’ Remote Operations and Control Center (ROCC) and brought together public and diplomatic representatives, including Chile’s Economy and Energy Minister Álvaro García, Canada’s Ambassador to Chile Karolina Guay, and U.S. Ambassador to Chile Brandon Judd. Speakers highlighted the role of long-term partnerships in enabling a modern, competitive mining industry aligned with Chile’s energy and climate goals.

A transition that began in 2013 and was secured from 2025

According to the companies, the achievement is the result of a process that began in 2013, when Teck and AES Andes signed their first solar power supply agreement, enabling the construction of a 21 MW solar plant and launching a gradual transition toward renewable energy sources.

That pathway was further consolidated in November 2022 with a long-term power supply contract, ensuring that as of 2025, all electricity consumed by Quebrada Blanca is sourced from clean and renewable generation.

Javier Dib, CEO of AES Andes, said the milestone reflects the trust built with customers over time and underscored the company’s commitment to delivering “competitive, sustainable, long-term solutions,” supported by strong operational performance.

For Teck, Dale Webb, Senior Vice President of LatAm Operations, described the move to renewable-only power at QB as a key step in the company’s sustainability strategy, contributing to its corporate goals to reduce carbon intensity across operations by 33% by 2030 and progress toward net-zero emissions by 2050.

Utility-scale renewables: solar, wind and battery storage

Teck Quebrada Blanca’s renewable electricity supply is supported by a mix of solar and wind generation along with battery energy storage systems (BESS). This includes infrastructure located at AES Andes’ Andes Solar hub in Chile’s Atacama Desert (Antofagasta Region), where the company operates what it described as Latin America’s largest battery energy storage system.

Under this structure, the operation’s renewable supply enables an estimated reduction of around 1.6 million tonnes of CO₂ per year, an impact the companies compared to removing more than 340,000 vehicles from circulation.

Minister Álvaro García stated that the agreement reflects a broader dynamic in which mining has helped drive the expansion of renewable energy in Chile: while the mining sector anchors demand, the power sector provides a strategic competitiveness boost through the production of “green copper”, a commodity expected to gain increasing value in global markets.

Beyond energy: desalinated water and community engagement

The renewable power milestone adds to other sustainability measures at Quebrada Blanca, including the use of desalinated water for 100% of its processes and ongoing community engagement work across the territory. Together, these efforts position QB as an operation seeking alignment with Chile’s environmental and social challenges.