Need
Canadian mining company First Quantum Minerals contacted Kunak with the need to create an air quality monitoring system at its Cobre Panama copper mine in Donoso, Panama.
Cobre Panama’s environmental team decided to strengthen the mine’s environmental monitoring through an air quality network consisting of Kunak AIR Pro stations for the measurement of different pollutant gases and particulate matter, powered by solar panels to allow measurement at points of interest without the need for a grid connection point. The devices were also equipped with anemometers, allowing the generation of pollutant roses and polar graphs to visualise the direction and origin of the pollution.
The objective was to measure, control and analyse the environmental impact of mining production and the mine’s activities in real-time at different critical points. As part of its environmental responsibility strategy, Cobre Panama uses this information as a decision-making tool to continuously improve air quality in the area and protect the health of its workers and neighbouring communities.
This monitoring network also makes it possible to record the main parameters to alert when any of them are altered through an early warning system, thus helping decision-making in a quick and agile manner.
Solution
Deployment of a network of Kunak AIR Pro stations for the measurement of NO, NO2, SO2, CO and O3 gases, suspended particles (PM10, PM4, PM2.5 and PM1), TSP (total suspended particles) and TPC (total particle count), and wind speed and direction, with total autonomy thanks to the power supply by solar panels, allowing monitoring at critical points of mining activities as well as the analysis of information for the implementation of effective practices for the reduction of environmental impact.
Benefits
- Expansion of the environmental monitoring network
- Monitoring of emissions during mining operations
- Real-time information on concentrations for decision-making
- Full visualisation of air quality status around the mine via Kunak AIR Cloud software
- Monitoring of air quality in nearby communities
- Alert system for threshold exceedances
- Protection of human health and the environment
Results
Thanks to the Kunak AIR Pro stations network, Cobre Panama can monitor air quality throughout the mining area and in the surrounding communities. In this way, the environmental impact of the mine’s activities can be prevented and mitigated and the health of the inhabitants and workers can be safeguarded against possible pollution episodes.
The data collected by the Kunak AIR Pro stations and the meteorological probes are integrated into the Kunak AIR Cloud platform, allowing a detailed analysis of the evolution of the different pollutants and, with the system of alerts for exceeding thresholds, to act in advance and verify the effectiveness of the control measures applied in the mine.
