Tellus is a global engineering consulting firm for mining companies. We have a team specialized in various areas of mining operations. Our approach is based on a comprehensive vision adapted to the current demands and challenges of the market, ensuring customized solutions that drive efficiency, competitiveness and sustainable growth for our clients.
With more than 170 projects executed globally and a decade of experience, our mission is the same one that drove us in our beginnings: to be a key player in the modernization of mining operations.
Solutions designed for the future of mining
We started as a small but highly specialized team of mining professionals dedicated to advising companies to implement autonomous trucks in their operations.
Over time, what began with a focus on technology implementation evolved into a comprehensive consultancy, supporting our clients in all phases of their projects. Today, we provide customized solutions that fit their objectives and deliver long-term, sustainable results.
The origins of the company date back to February 2011 in Australia. Founded by former Rio Tinto executives trained in the same mining company’s Mine of Future program.
The purpose that united these professionals was to support and advise based on the specific needs of each client. Then, in 2014, we started developing projects in Chile; One of the most important mining industries worldwide.
In its beginnings, the focus of the service was on the implementation of autonomous trucks in mining operations. Over time, and based on the needs of our customers, this service not only covered the technological implementation but also the integral advice associated with productivity, resource management, electromobility, optimization, technological roadmaps, among others.
Although there have been years of efforts and shared successes, at Tellus we project ourselves even more and, over time, we are born the concern to expand and, after carrying out a project for a mining company in Canada, we decided to open an office in Vancouver in 2022.
Part of the added value in the origins of the company are our knowledge and experience in the mining industry of Chile and what we learned in Australia, which we convert, improve and adapt to the local industry through our expert gaze.
Our founder, inspired by the principles of the Mine of the Future learned as a former executive at Rio Tinto in Australia, returned to Chile with a clear vision: to position Tellus as the strategic partner for the digital and operational transformation of mining.
The Tellus standard
In a constantly evolving industry, we have learned that flexibility and the ability to innovate in a sustainable way have enabled us not only to provide cutting-edge solutions, but also to deliver services that truly meet our customers’ needs and expectations.
A strategic partner for the world’s leading mining companies
Today, we work with some of the 40 largest mining companies in the world, consolidating our position as a strategic partner in the transformation of the industry. Our approach is based on delivering tangible results, aligned with each client’s objectives and with a long-term vision.
TEAM
MANAGEMENT
Carlos Erazo
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and founder
Industrial Engineer and Mining Engineer, with more than 20 years of experience in the mining industry. With an entrepreneurial and strategic vision, throughout his career, between Chile and Australia, he has worked from different perspectives of the mining business. Its areas of development include asset management (maintenance), state-of-the-art technologies (automation) and production (continuous improvement of mining operations).
José Luis Troncoso
Chief Strategy Officer (CSO)
With 15 years of experience in the industry, particularly in mine planning, operations and consulting focused on automation, productivity and deployment of mining technologies. He has led studies on the implementation of mining technologies in Chile and Australia, capturing knowledge and experience in various operating conditions and technologies applied to mining with a focus on safety, productivity and automation (trucks/ autonomous drills). He has operational experience implementing technology transformations in large-scale mining operations, leading the implementation, change management, and adoption of technology by mining organizations.
Paula Burgos
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Commercial Engineer, specialized in Finance and Business Administration, with 17 years of experience in the public sector and in the mining industry of products and services. Throughout his career in mining, he has worked in the elaboration and definition of corporate budgets, operational control, organizational and commercial management of projects and contracts in the industry, controlling budgets and profitability, in addition to modeling, developing and implementing processes in the various areas of the business.
Gabriel Barahona
Research & Development Manager
Civil Electrical Engineer with more than 30 years of experience in automation solutions for the mining industry and others. His professional activity has focused on leading technology introduction initiatives in areas such as Data Analytics and Decarbonization. He has worked in technical, strategic and business development roles in global companies in the electricity / automation area, dedicating the last 10 years specifically to consulting in technology solutions for mining.
Christian Elgueta
Technical Manager Mine Planning & Tech
Civil Mining Engineer with more than 19 years of experience in the open pit mining industry. Expert in strategic mine planning, highlighting pit optimization processes, extraction sequence definition, phase design and long, medium and short term strategic planning. With specialized knowledge in project management, focused on the optimization and continuous improvement of the processes in which he is involved.
Carlos Aguilera
Senior Automation Manager
Mining Engineer with more than 20 years of experience in technology for mining operations, project management and supervision of mining operations. He has 16 years of experience in the autonomous operation of transportation, with knowledge of Frontrunner, Command, ASI Mobius and other emerging systems; focusing his management in the continuous improvement of processes, as well as in the proposal of solutions for the development of new features together with distributors and OEMs.
Felipe Ramírez
AHS Support Manager
Civil Mining Engineer with more than 15 years of experience in the optimization of resources, safety and efficiency in open pit mines. Throughout his career he has led the development of the implementation of effective and innovative solutions in mining operations, standing out as an expert in autonomous transport systems with high tonnage trucks (AHS), from the conceptual stage of technical and economic proposal to the commissioning and operation under design.
Patricio Quiroga
Electrification Manager
Civil Mining Engineer with more than ten years of experience in the mining industry. He has successfully led operations and projects in large mining, highlighting the implementation of autonomous systems in truck fleets and operational continuity projects. His career, which spans more than eight years dedicated specifically to leadership roles in mining operations and mine modernization projects, has provided him with in-depth knowledge in key areas of the business, such as mine operations, integrated operations, management control, mine process engineering, operational excellence, and project management in mining.
Cristián Vera
Senior Planning Engineer
Civil Mining Engineer with more than 12 years of experience in the open pit mining industry. Expert in mine planning in pit optimization processes, extraction sequence definition and long term strategic planning. He also has experience in short term planning, mine operation and open pit prestripping.
Claudia Gálvez
Senior Mining Engineer
Civil Mining Engineer with more than 15 years of experience in various areas of the mining production chain. Much of her career has been spent as a drilling, blasting and long-term strategic planning engineer. She has also been responsible for successfully managing and processing operating permits, mining regulations and technological project escalation reports before the corresponding authority.
Santiago Villaroel
Technical Lead Expert
Civil Mining Engineer with more than 10 years of experience in large-scale mining, leading work teams in mine operations, short- and medium- term planning.
Julio Olivos
Technical Lead Expert Planning
Civil Mining Engineer, with more than 6 years of experience in long term planning in open pit mining. Specifically, he is involved in the optimization of mining resources, definition of extraction sequences, preparation of long-term mining plans and estimation of maximum exploitation rates.
Fernanda Rivas
Technical Lead
Civil Mining Engineer with more than 6 years of experience. He has extensive knowledge in management and development of engineering projects in the areas of renewable energy, mining and construction. With experience in truck and drilling rig autonomy projects, CAS system, fatigue sleepiness systems, and economic evaluations, among other technology and innovation projects for large mining companies in Chile and Peru.
Esteban Maldonado
Technical Lead Expert
Civil Mining Engineer with more than 8 years of professional experience, focused on leadership, innovation, management control, business intelligence and data analysis in the mining industry. His career has been built around digital transformation, being responsible for successfully managing process improvements through information technology, and approaching problems in a systemic and customer-oriented way.
Enrique Vio
AHS Mine Planning Scheduler
Civil Mining Engineer with 6 years in the mining industry. He has experience in AHS circuits and continuous improvement of automated operation. He also has experience and knowledge in the monitoring of operational and safety controls and standards, as well as in the optimization of resources and the management of daily activities in the mining operation.
Diego González
Technical Lead
Civil Mining Engineer with 5 years of experience in the mining industry. He has experience in technical consulting for technological implementation projects related to fleet selection, automation, trolley assist system, optimization and management of mining processes related to transportation equipment. In addition, he has participated in technical and economic evaluations of decarbonization projects with technologies on board transportation equipment, through the use of software and data analysis in deterministic and stochastic simulations.
Sebastián Herrera
Technical Lead
Civil Mining Engineer with 5 years of experience working as a specialist and technical leader in several initiatives related to projects and technology implementation studies for mining companies with operations in Chile and Peru. These include truck autonomy projects ranging from technical and economic evaluation to the development of an implementation and scaling-up plan for the operation, studies and incorporation of collision warning systems in mining equipment, studies and evaluations in the conceptual stage for the implementation of autonomous drilling rigs, and technical advice for the updating and migration of fleet management systems with a view to autonomy.
Greek San Martín
Technical Lead
