Chile files environmental charges against Anglo American copper mine

31st December 2024

By: Reuters

SANTIAGO - Chile's environmental regulator has filed four charges against the major Los Bronces copper mine, controlled by Anglo American, for noncompliance with environmental permits, the agency said on Monday.

The charges could carry a fine of nearly 17-billion pesos ($17.17-million), according to the Superintendency of the Environment, or SMA.

Los Bronces is one of Chile's biggest copper mines with output of 215 500 metric tons last year, as well as a key project for Anglo American, which has been a takeover target of larger rival BHP.

Anglo American said in a statement that it was analyzing the accusations to determine its next steps.
One of the charges was deemed "very serious," the highest of three offense levels, for noncompliance dating back to a 2014 sanction.

At the time, the SMA found that Anglo American Sur, the local unit that operates Los Bronces, failed to resolve acid drainage at the Esteriles Donoso tailings deposit, designed to hold mine waste.

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