Wilson, S, Brown, R, Carnero, F & Castro, S 2010, 'Design intent to reality — commissioning of the Aguas Tenidas paste backfill plant, Spain', in R Jewell & AB Fourie (eds), Paste 2010: Proceedings of the Thirteenth International Seminar on Paste and Thickened Tailings, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 479-485, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_rep/1063_42_Wilson
(https://papers.acg.uwa.edu.au/p/1063_42_Wilson/)
Abstract: The Aguas Teñidas mine is located in the Huelva Province, Southern Spain, having been recommissioned by 
Minas de Aguas Teñidas SA (MATSA) in 2008 following a period of care and maintenance. The mine entered 
a period of pre-commercial commissioning production from late 2008 with full production achieved by the 
4th quarter 2009. The adoption of paste backfill is a critical component of the mining operation and of the 
integrated approach to mine waste management adopted by MATSA (del Pozo, 2008).  
Engineering of the paste backfill plant and underground distribution system (UDS) commenced in April 
2007 with the undertaking of a basic engineering design by Golder Paste Technology Ltd. (Golder 
PasteTec), the scope of which involved the laboratory testing, development of the design intent, operating 
philosophy, equipment selection and plant layout. From this work, the detailed engineering and construction 
of the plant was by others and was ostensibly completed in May 2009 when commissioning began. The first 
trial stope pour was completed in July with full production underway by October 2009.  
Significantly, the design, construction and commissioning support retained by MATSA was not continuous 
throughout the project with different engineering firms responsible for key aspects of the engineering and 
execution program. Since Golder PasteTec ‘bookended’ the project (early engineering and then 
commissioning) it is aware of the subtle differences from initial design intent set out at basic engineering, 
and the reality of that constructed, and this will be discussed in the paper.  
 
 
Figure 1 Aguas Tenidas paste backfill plant, Spain 
Design intent to reality — commissioning of the Aguas Tenidas paste backfill plant, Spain S. Wilson et al. 
480 Paste 2010, Toronto, Canada