Chile rejects second Anglo American project in two months

Anglo American (LSE: AAL) has suffered a new setback in Chile after the environmental commission of Valparaiso, Coeva, rejected the company’s US$40-million operational continuity project for its El Soldado copper mine, 125 km north of the capital Santiago.

Despite having the backing of the country’s environmental evaluation authority, which recommended the project’s approval, the local regulator scratched El Soldado Phase V project with 10 voting against and only two in favour.

The news, divulged through social media, was confirmed to MINING.COM by the London-based company’s spokesperson.

Aaron Puna, executive president of Anglo American said in a public statement the company was surprised with the resolution.

“The project had a Consolidated Evaluation Report (ICE) that recommended its approval and was backed by all the services that participated in the environmental assessment process.”

This is the sixth mining project vetoed by the government of President Gabriel Boric, who assumed power in March this year and the second for Anglo American.

In May, a Chilean environmental regulator formally rejected the company’s application for a US$3 billion expansion of its flagship Los Bronces copper mine.

The asset, one of Anglo American’s two largest copper operations, has been mined for over 150 years and is running out of high-grade ore. The Los Bronces Integrated Project (LBIP) would have allowed the company to tap higher grade ores from a new underground section of the mine, extending its life through 2036. 

Anglo American has been the majority-owner of El Soldado since 2002. The mine started operations in 1980 and produced 42.300 tonnes of copper last year, making it relatively small by Chilean standards.

Diego Hernández, president of the country’s National Mining Society (SONAMI) condemned Coeva’s decision.

“It seems to us that it is a very bad sign to see a significant number of projects rejected lately, not only new mines, but operational continuity projects, which are left with no other option than closing down,” he told local paper La Tercera.

Copper deposits are among the hottest assets in mining right now, mainly due to the metal’s use in electric vehicles (EVs) and the global green energy revolution.

Experts estimate the copper industry needs to spend more than US$100 billion to build mines able to close what could be an annual supply deficit of 4.7 million tonnes by 2030.