In November 2017, Water. Desalination + reuse (Faversham House) reported that Japan's Mitsui & Co and Spain's Tedagua had set up the project company Caitan as equal partners. It was to supply the Spence copper mine of BHP Billiton unit Minera Spence for 20 years from an 86,400 m³/day plant at Mejillones port. Saipem and Cobra were to lay 155 km of pipeline with three pumping stations up to 1,710 metres altitude. Total cost was put at a reported 800 million US dollars, with start-up planned for Q2 2020.
The report showed Chilean mining turning to seawater desalination with long pumping lines for its high-altitude sites, secured through long-term supply contracts with private consortia.