BHP submits plan to reopen Cerro Colorado copper mine for 20 years

Mining News  |  2026-07-02 00:08:19   |   By

This initiative aims to reopen Cerro Colorado and extend its presence in the Tarapacá Region for an additional 20 years.

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): BHP has submitted its plans to reopen the Cerro Colorado copper mine in Chile. Its ‘Operational Extension of the Cerro Colorado Mining Operation through the Improvement and Expansion of Mining Facilities and Implementation of a New Water Supply System’ (CCLE) project has been passed to the Environmental Impact Assessment System (SEIA) of the Servicio de Evaluación Ambiental (SEA). The project would involve an investment of around US$1.5 billion.

This initiative aims to reopen Cerro Colorado and extend its presence in the Tarapacá Region for an additional 20 years. The project could generate approximately 1,500 jobs during the construction phase and more than 3,000 jobs during the operational phase. As a water supply solution, the project involves the use of treated wastewater transported via a pipeline spanning over 100 km from the commune of Alto Hospicio to the mine site – which BHP says is an unprecedented solution for a mining project in the Tarapacá Region.

“This project represents an opportunity to build a new phase for Cerro Colorado, incorporating solutions that address current challenges regarding water management, environmental protection, and community relations. We want to develop an operation that is prepared for the future and contributes to the sustainable growth of Tarapacá and Chile’s copper production,” said Dee Lingenfelder, President of Pampa Norte, the BHP division that also includes the Spence operation.

The CCLE project has involved a novel early dialogue process using a public-private tool for territorial discussion known as the Voluntary Early Participation Agreement (AVPT) – promoted by the Sustainability and Climate Change Agency. This dialogue process spanned the 15 months prior to the submission of the Environmental Impact Study, bringing together various stakeholders and representatives from the Tarapacá region to discuss and prioritise the project’s value proposition for the area. Additionally, other participatory initiatives – such as open houses and dialogue sessions – were organised to ensure the inclusion of all stakeholders and to address the cultural context of the project’s area of ​​influence.

Cerro Colorado is a copper mining operation located in the municipality of Pozo Almonte, in the Tarapacá Region, and began operations in 1994. After 30 years of continuous operation, in 2023 it entered a temporary closure phase due to the expiration of its environmental permits. Currently, the operation holds authorisation from Sernageomin to remain in that status until 2028.

Courtesy: www.im-mining.com