Restoration of the Salt Deposits
Sallent’s salt deposits
The El Cogulló salt deposit was opened in 1977 in order to store the excess salt from the potash extraction of Vilafruns mine. It had been in use by the companies that operated it prior to ICL Iberia. On June 30, 2019 the deposit was shut down and ICL Iberia has taken the first steps in the restoration process.
ICL Iberia has taken the first steps in the restoration process, as part of its commitment to pursue a more sustainable mining.
La Botjosa is a mining colony built in the 1930’s just off the Sallent plant to house the families working at the mine. Next to it lays a salt deposit of the same name, which was used to deposit salt from the potash extraction prior to the opening of the Cogulló.
The deposit has been inactive since the early 1970’s, when the state-owned company Potasas Ibéricas closed it permanently. Without making any use of it, ICL Iberia has committed to restore the deposit, and in recent years, a series of preventive measures and environmental management have been carried out. During 2019 the company conducted surveys in the deposit as part of its restoration plan.
The restoration process
In April 2011, ICL Iberia announced the Phoenix Plan for the reactivation of the Bages mining basin. The plan aims for reaching full economic, social and environmental sustainability in its mining activity, while gradually transferring the production of the Vilafruns mine (Sallent) to the Cabanasses mine (Súria).
A multi‑year program is currently underway to restore ICL Iberia’s salt deposits, while concentrating efforts on wastewater drainage and sludge treatment.
The restoration program proposed by ICL includes the rehabilitation of the La Botjosa and Cogulló deposits, as well as the purification of salt in order to create value and reintroduce it into the value chain, selling it as a product.
ICL Iberia Súria & Sallent has carried out a detailed independent study in order to restore the areas of La Botjosa and Cogulló. Following the study, 6 restoration alternatives were proposed.
In order to implement a restoration plan which takes into consideration environmental, social, technological and economic aspects, ICL Iberia has analyzed and carried out with a team of experts a detailed study with 6 proposals, before selecting one, according to the technical knowledge available up to this date:
The proposal selected by the company, after taking into account environmental, social, technological and economic aspects, and which the company has started implementing, was one, which combines the removal of salt from the two deposits for its commercialization, by constructing a new salt purification plant, and the transfer of the remaining salt to the sea through a new collector.
The Process
In accordance with the restoration plan proposed by ICL and the Urban Master Plan of the territory, the restoration process of the two salt deposits will begin with that of La Botjosa. It is expected that the restoration work in this deposit will take about five years once work begins, depending on receiving all the necessary permits (expected during 2020).
Once the construction of the new collector is completed, the restoration of La Botjosa could be made compatible with the beginning of the restoration work on the Cogulló. Estimates for the restoration of this deposit are about 46 years.
The operating rate will reach, once the new collector and the rest of the infrastructures are launched, an average of 1,050,000 tonnes per year.
In order to restore the mountain, the salt must be extracted and then treated. To do this, a system (milling machine or similar) will be used to grind and remove salt superficially. This extracted salt will be taken to the primary production plant where it will be treated. From here, a part will be commercialized, and the rest will be sent to the sea through the new collector.
Improve surface and groundwater quality
ICL Iberia has implemented numerous measures, preventative in most cases, to environmentally control and manage its salt deposits at Suria and Sallent. The company’s goal is to prevent salt water from reaching and mixing with freshwater, and to create a sustainable relationship with the surrounding areas.
ICL Iberia has constructed new collection points, established multiple control points for quantitative and qualitative water analysis. It has also been implementing measures to minimize salt accumulation into the deposits as well as groundwater control measures.
[text under the pictures] Control measures at the Suria and Sallent salt deposits
New preventive measures are being implemented in the Súria salt deposit as well. The newest zone was completely waterproofed and a complex drainage system is being constructed. Previously, ICL Iberia carried out an exhaustive research plan including the excavation of trenches and drilling of boreholes to evaluate and assess soil quality at the Suria site, and to ensure that all salty water is properly manage
Soil desalination
As the ground is cleared during the salt removal process, the soil under La Botjosa and Cogulló reservoirs will be washed to remove any remaining salt.
The existing perimeter ponds and canals and other preventive and corrective systems that ensure the control of effluents will be maintained until all saline materials are removed from the deposits.
Running Up the Mountain - Hosting the “Bell Race”
300 runners participated in a unique running competition, organized by residents of the Bages region. This is the third time that ICL Iberia is using the mountain to host the event.
