In an environment where projects are becoming increasingly complex, Ausenco supports clients from the earliest decisions through commissioning, operations, and closure, applying an integrated approach that strengthens project execution, reduces risk, and improves operational performance throughout the asset lifecycle.
Chile’s mining industry is preparing for a new cycle of growth. According to Cochilco’s latest investment portfolio report, the mining project pipeline for the 2025-2034 period has increased by 25.7% compared to the previous report, reflecting a landscape shaped by new developments, expansions, and projects that will need to be delivered with greater efficiency and certainty.
This environment presents a challenge that extends beyond traditional engineering. Declining ore grades, increasing environmental requirements, and growing pressure to control costs demand early decisions that will influence operational performance for decades. Today, success is not only about designing a project, but also ensuring it can be constructed, commissioned, and operated safely, efficiently, and sustainably.
With this perspective, Ausenco, a global engineering and project delivery company focused on minerals and metals, integrates engineering, asset optimization, operational readiness, commissioning, and early-stage risk management. With more than 35 years of experience and teams across five continents, the company works to anticipate gaps, strengthen decision-making, and support clients throughout the entire project lifecycle.
"In complex mining projects, the greatest uncertainties often arise before execution begins. That is why it is critical to establish a robust baseline from the outset, understand environmental, technical, and regional conditions, and identify constraints that could impact permitting, construction, or commissioning. It is equally important to consider closure from the earliest stages and throughout the project lifecycle to enable better decisions and achieve sustainable long-term outcomes," explains Neptalí Boñon, Vice President, Earth & Environment, South America at Ausenco.
This same approach also applies to expansions and life-extension projects, where understanding asset conditions and planning ahead can optimize investments and reduce execution risks.
"A mining investment becomes a stronger business case when it successfully transitions from design to a safe, efficient, and sustainable operation. By integrating engineering, asset optimization, operational readiness, and commissioning from the earliest stages, we help improve cost certainty, reduce execution risks, and unlock value throughout the project lifecycle," says Marcelo Henriquez, Vice President, Minerals & Metals Chile at Ausenco.
Having worked on some of the most significant mining projects in the region, Ausenco has developed an approach to engineering that incorporates technical, operational, and environmental considerations from the very beginning. This integrated perspective is helping clients address the challenges of a new era of mining investment with greater confidence and certainty.
About Ausenco
Ausenco is a global engineering, consulting, and project delivery company built for the minerals and metals industry. With more than three decades of global experience, we partner with clients to navigate complex challenges from initial study through final closure, across all project phases and on five continents. Drawing on deep roots in the minerals and metals sector, our team combines technical expertise, practical experience, and proven insights to deliver innovative, pragmatic solutions that reduce risk and create value.