Chile information environmental costs towards Anglo American copper mine By Reuters

(Within the December 23 article, corrects paragraph 3 to point out that Los Bronces manufacturing in 2023 was 215,500 metric tons, not 255,000 tons.)

By Fabien Cambero

SANTIAGO (Reuters) – Chile’s environmental regulator has filed 4 costs towards the main Los Bronces copper mine, managed by Anglo American (JO:), for failing to adjust to environmental permits, the company stated on Monday.

The fees might end in a fantastic of almost 17 billion pesos ($17.17 million), in response to the Superintendence of the Setting, or SMA.

Los Bronces is one among Chile’s largest copper mines with manufacturing of 215,500 tonnes final yr, in addition to a key undertaking for Anglo American, which has been a takeover goal by its largest rival BHP.

Anglo American stated in an announcement it was analyzing the accusations to find out subsequent steps.

One of many costs was rated “very severe”, the very best of three offense ranges, for non-compliance courting again to a 2014 sanction.

On the time, the SMA discovered that Anglo American Sur, the native unit that operates Los Bronces, had didn’t resolve the issue of acid drainage on the Esteriles Donoso tailings deposit, designed to include mining waste.

“The corporate has not carried out a definitive answer (…) this constitutes a repetition of beforehand sanctioned acts,” stated the SMA.

The tailings depot isn’t at present in use, Anglo American stated, including that in October it submitted an environmental allow software to resolve the issue.

The regulator additionally filed two costs within the mid-level “severe” class. One was towards Anglo American for failing to design a mitigation system for the acidic waters collected downstream of the Esteriles deposit, and one other for failing to take steps to regulate seepage into the tailings dam. Las Tortolas.

The miner stated it was “working to optimize the hydraulic barrier permitted by the regulator to enhance seepage management”.

The SMA additionally discovered that Anglo American didn’t report full water and residue knowledge to the company, a violation it described as “minor.”

The minor has 15 days to submit a mitigation plan and 22 days to contest the costs.

Earlier this month, the SMA additionally filed three costs towards Anglo American for violations at its El Soldado copper mine within the Valparaiso area.

($1 = 989.9000 Chilean pesos)