Mining industry in Chile regrets rejection of Dominga iron and copper project

The Chilean mining industry regretted Wednesday the rejection of the environmental permit for the Dominga iron and copper project from a government instance, arguing that political considerations prevailed over the technical aspects of the initiative.

The project was dismissed in the morning by the Committee of Ministers, a government panel that reviews disputes over investment projects.

The president of the National Mining Society (sonami), Jorge Riescosaid in a statement that the project was supported in all technical instances, and its delay is due to a “prosecution strategy” which has been repeated in other cases.

“More than a technical decision, the determination seems to be the fulfillment of a commitment assumed during the presidential campaign. Therefore, it was very difficult for his ministers to contradict the president and approve the investment“, he pointed.

In his first speech after winning the presidency, President Gabriel Boric pointed out directly his opposition to the project located near protected maritime zones in the north of the country.

Risky He stressed the need for legal certainty for investments considering that the vital mining sector has a portfolio of more than 70,000 million dollars.

During the explanation of the decision, the Minister of Economy, Nicolás Grau, dismissed that the decision on sunday in particular, it could impact the investment environment in the world’s largest copper producer.

“When one sees the wide range of investment projects that are being developed in the country, one realizes that this protection of the environment, and more specifically our contribution to the fight against the climate crisis, apart from being an obstacle to be an opportunity and a catalyst for both national and foreign investment”, he told reporters.

Source: Reuters