EcoMetales
EcoMetales is a Codelco-owned environmental services subsidiary that stabilizes arsenic and recovers copper and other valuable elements from mining residues using patented hydrometallurgical processes, primarily serving Codelco's Chilean copper operations from its Calama plant.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersSantiago, Chile
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What EcoMetales does
EcoMetales is a wholly-owned subsidiary (filial) of Codelco, Chile's state-owned copper mining major, providing specialized environmental and metallurgical solutions for the mining industry. The company is built on hydrometallurgical processes — primarily leaching and precipitation — and operates an industrial plant in Calama (Antofagasta region) with a supporting pilot plant and laboratory, alongside corporate headquarters in Santiago. Its core technology stack centers on two industrial operations: leaching of smelting dusts to recover copper and other valuable metals, and the Arsenic Abatement as Scorodite (AAA) process that crystallizes arsenic into stable, non-hazardous scorodite compliant with Chilean D.S. 148/03 and D.S. 28/2013.
The company's product portfolio extends to value-recovery projects from tailings (relaves) and slimes/borras, plus consulting-style improvement projects for arsenic residue handling. EcoMetales holds 29 active patents globally, including Chilean Patent No. 50.423 for the scorodite process and the recently accepted 'Escorodita Concentrada' patent that nearly doubles arsenic concentration in the final residue. The technology is distinguished as the only known industrial-level stable arsenical residue, declared non-hazardous by Chilean health authorities in 2018.
EcoMetales generates revenue through managed-service contracts for environmental treatment (primarily with Codelco) plus transaction-based income from recovered copper and other valuable elements sold from byproducts. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; the GTM motion is direct enterprise engagement with Codelco operations and executive management, with secondary visibility via sustainability reports, academic partnerships (Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María), and industry seminars. The customer base is effectively a single anchor — Codelco — making EcoMetales a vertically integrated environmental-services arm of Chile's copper industry rather than an independent commercial vendor.
EcoMetales firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- EcoMetales
- Legal name
- EcoMetales
- Website
- https://ecometales.cl
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- EcoMetales is a Codelco-owned environmental services subsidiary that stabilizes arsenic and recovers copper and other valuable elements from mining residues using patented hydrometallurgical processes, primarily serving Codelco's Chilean copper operations from its Calama plant.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
EcoMetales industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Mining Environmental Services
- NAICS
- Copper, Nickel, Lead, and Zinc Mining (212230), Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Smelting and Refining (33141), Support Activities for Metal Mining (213114)
- SIC
- Metal Mining (1000), Primary Smelting & Refining Of Nonferrous Metals (3330)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Copper Tailings, Waste & Water Management (IMAKADAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Copper Mine Closure, Remediation & Reclamation (IMAKADAN), Mining & Heavy Metals Remediation (Acid Mine Drainage, tailings-impacted sites) (BPALAKAK)
Keywords
Where EcoMetales is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Santiago
- HQ country
- Chile
- HQ region
- Latin America
Offices2 records
Markets served
EcoMetales business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Environmental Treatment Services: EcoMetales provides environmental treatment services to mining companies, specifically Codelco, for processing and stabilizing arsenic-bearing residues from copper production. Revenue is generated through service contracts for treatment operations at their Calama plant.
- Value Recovery from Mining Residues: Recovery and sale of copper and other valuable elements from tailings, smelting dusts, and other mining byproducts. Supports circular economy objectives in mining.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
EcoMetales product offering
Product offeringCore offering
EcoMetales provides specialized environmental solutions for the mining sector, focusing on the treatment and stabilization of arsenic-bearing residues and the recovery of valuable metals (primarily copper) from smelting dusts, tailings, and slimes. Its core operations include the Arsenic Abatement as Scorodite (AAA) process and the leaching of smelting dusts, delivered from its industrial plant in Calama, Chile. The company also operates a pilot plant and laboratory for developing new recovery and stabilization technologies.
Product overview
EcoMetales provides a portfolio of environmental solutions for the mining industry, primarily serving Codelco operations. The core offering centers on two main process technologies: (1) leaching of smelting dusts for copper recovery, and (2) arsenic abatement through scorodite stabilization (AAA process). Supporting these are pilot plant and laboratory facilities for technology development. The company also develops projects for value recovery from tailings and slimes, as well as improvements in arsenic residue handling. All operations are conducted at the Calama plant in Antofagasta, Chile, with corporate headquarters in Santiago.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Lixiviación de Polvos de Fundición (Smelting Dust Leaching) Hydrometallurgical leaching service for copper smelting and refining operators that recovers copper and other valuable metals from smelting dusts, a byproduct of copper pyrometallurgy.
- Abatimiento de Arsénico como Escorodita (AAA) Arsenic abatement service for copper mining and smelting operators that crystallizes arsenic in a stable oxidizing iron matrix, producing scorodite — the only known industrial-level stable arsenical residue, certified non-hazardous under Chilean Decree Supreme 148/03.
- Recuperación de Valor desde Relaves (Value Recovery from Tailings) Secondary mining service that extracts copper and other valuable elements from mining tailings, enabling circular mining and additional resource recovery for mining operators.
- Recuperación de Valor desde Borras (Value Recovery from Slimes) Process service that recovers valuable elements from slimes and sediment residues generated during metallurgical operations, extending circular mining into another waste stream.
- Planta Piloto y Laboratorio (Pilot Plant and Laboratory) Dedicated pilot plant and laboratory facility located in Calama that tests and scales new processes for arsenic stabilization and value recovery, supporting technology development for mining operators.
- Mejoramiento en la Generación, Transporte y Disposición de Residuos Arsenicales Project-oriented service aimed at improving the generation, transport, and disposal of arsenic-containing residues for mining operators, enabling safer and more efficient handling of arsenical waste.
Quantifiable outcome
- Scorodite residue certified non-hazardous by Chilean health authorities (Regional Ministerial Health Secretary of Antofagasta, 2018)
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use EcoMetales
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
EcoMetales technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
EcoMetales partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- CodelcocoreEcoMetales is a subsidiary of Codelco, the Chilean state-owned copper mining company. The company was established to provide environmental solutions to Codelco's mining operations, specifically focusing on arsenic management and value recovery from mining residues. Codelco is the primary and dominant customer, with EcoMetales operating as an integral part of Codelco's environmental management strategy.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
EcoMetales competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Glencore: Major diversified miner and copper smelter with in-house environmental management of arsenic residues across multiple jurisdictions. Comparable as a large operator with similar regulatory and remediation exposure to EcoMetales.
- Antofagasta PLC: Chilean copper miner (Los Pelambres, Centinela, Antucoya) and operator of the FCFC copper smelter; operates in Chile alongside EcoMetales and faces comparable arsenic treatment requirements.
- Anglo American: Diversified miner with copper exposure and a stated 'Future of Mining' tailings and remediation program. Comparable as a large diversified miner with similar ESG-driven environmental services needs.
- Rio Tinto: Major copper miner (Kennecott, Resolution) with publicly disclosed mine closure, tailings storage, and remediation commitments. Comparable on environmental-services demand profile.
- Teck Resources: Canadian copper/zinc miner operating smelters (e.g., Trail Operations) and managing arsenic-bearing residues under stringent regulation — directly analogous industrial operational profile.
- Freeport-McMoRan: Large copper miner (and smelter operator via Atlantic Copper) with material arsenic-management needs across its concentrates. Comparable as a major copper producer facing the same arsenic residue challenge.
- BHP: Global mining major with significant copper exposure (Escondida, Pampa Norte in Chile; Olympic Dam) and major tailings-management and remediation programs. Comparable as a mining operator that needs similar services at scale.
Direct peers
- Boliden: Swedish mining and smelting operator (copper, zinc) with internal environmental services for arsenic-bearing residues and a long-running focus on sustainable smelting. Comparable as an integrated mining+environmental services operator.
- Dundee Sustainable Technologies: Canadian developer of hydrometallurgical processes for arsenic stabilization (e.g., GlassLock process) and precious/base metal recovery from mining residues. Closest direct functional peer to EcoMetales' AAA/scorodite line of business.
- Aurubis: Europe's largest copper smelter and recycler, operating multi-metal recovery from complex feedstocks including arsenic-bearing residues. Directly comparable business model of copper recovery plus environmental stabilization.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
EcoMetales social profiles
Digital presenceEcoMetales financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
EcoMetales leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
EcoMetales funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
EcoMetales M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about EcoMetales
What does EcoMetales do?
EcoMetales provides specialized environmental solutions for the mining sector, focusing on the treatment and stabilization of arsenic-bearing residues and the recovery of valuable metals (primarily copper) from smelting dusts, tailings, and slimes. Its core operations include the Arsenic Abatement as Scorodite (AAA) process and the leaching of smelting dusts, delivered from its industrial plant in Calama, Chile. The company also operates a pilot plant and laboratory for developing new recovery and stabilization technologies.
Is EcoMetales a public or private company?
EcoMetales is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was EcoMetales founded?
EcoMetales was founded in 2007. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is EcoMetales based?
EcoMetales is headquartered in Santiago, Chile, in the Latin America region.
How does EcoMetales make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Environmental Treatment Services are the primary driver. The others are value Recovery from Mining Residues.
Who are EcoMetales's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Glencore, Antofagasta PLC, Anglo American, Rio Tinto, Teck Resources, Freeport-McMoRan and BHP. Direct peers are Boliden, Dundee Sustainable Technologies and Aurubis.
Does EcoMetales have an API?
No public API is recorded for EcoMetales.
What industry is EcoMetales in?
EcoMetales's product category is Mining Environmental Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAKADAL, Copper Tailings, Waste & Water Management, with a secondary code of IMAKADAN, Copper Mine Closure, Remediation & Reclamation. Its NAICS code is 212230 and its SIC code is 1000.