Gigantic warehouse for bulk storage SQM

Challenge

The international listed Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile, or SQM for short, is one of the world’s leading producers of lithium carbonate. The company needed a gigantic warehouse for the bulk storage of 85,000 tonnes of soda ash, a raw material used in the production of lithium carbonate, the main component in lithium batteries used globally in (among others) electric cars. The structure had to be constructed in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile, where sporadic gale-force winds of up to 140 km/h occur. A daring feat, considering the particularly strict safety regulations in the mining sector. For example, construction could not take place at wind speeds exceeding 30km/h.

Veldeman has already built up considerable experience in the mining sector in Chile in recent years, including 5 structures for Codelco, the world’s largest copper producer. It is in part due to this expertise that SQM decided to partner with Veldeman.

Solution

Veldeman constructed its largest-ever structure for this project: 60-m wide, 236-m long and a side height of 6 m, also instantly Latin America’s largest semi-permanent structure. The structure consists of steel legs, aluminium roof profiles and a cladding of high-quality PVC-coated fabric and was fully custom-developed by our technical department to meet Chilean standards and wind loads. Besides the engineering, production and assembly, Veldeman was also responsible for the installation of the foundations, retaining walls, electricity, lighting, electric gates, modular floor and a dust-collection system in this turnkey project. All coordination took place from our headquarters in Bree, in collaboration with the local project managers of our Chilean branch. A realisation that we are particularly proud of!