Chile Files Four Environmental Charges Against Anglo American’s Los Bronces Mine
Chile’s environmental regulator has filed four charges against Anglo American’s Los Bronces copper mine for failing to comply with environmental permits, the agency announced on Monday.
The charges, which could result in a fine of nearly 17 billion pesos (approximately $17.17 million), were brought by the Superintendency of the Environment (SMA).
Los Bronces, one of Chile’s largest copper mines with an output of 255,000 metric tons in the previous year, is a key asset for Anglo American, which has been the target of a potential takeover by larger rival BHP.
Anglo American responded to the charges by stating it is currently reviewing the allegations to determine its next steps.
One of the charges, classified as “very serious”—the highest level of offense—relates to noncompliance dating back to a 2014 sanction.
At that time, the SMA had found that Anglo American Sur, the local unit operating Los Bronces, failed to address acid drainage at the Esteriles Donoso tailings deposit, which is designed to hold mine waste.
“The company has not implemented a definitive solution… it constitutes a repetition of acts previously sanctioned,” the SMA said.
The tailings deposit is no longer in use, according to Anglo American, which added that it had submitted a request for an environmental permit in October to resolve the issue.
In addition, two charges were filed under the “serious” category. One charge addresses Anglo American’s failure to design a mitigation system for acid water collected downstream of the Esteriles deposit, while the other concerns the lack of action to control seepage at the Las Tortolas tailings dam.
The company confirmed it is “working to optimize the hydraulic barrier approved by the regulator to improve seepage control.”
The SMA also found that Anglo American had failed to submit complete data on water and tailings to the agency, a violation categorized as “minor.”
Anglo American has 15 days to present a mitigation plan and 22 days to contest the charges.
Earlier this month, the SMA filed three charges against Anglo American for violations at its El Soldado copper mine in the Valparaiso region.
SOURCE:mining.com
