Antofagasta Copper Mine Cited for Serious Environmental Breaches

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Antofagasta plc’s Chilean copper mine has been charged foer serious environmental breaches. The Chilean-based copper mining group was charged by the country’s Superintendency of the Environment (SMA), citing environmental damage caused by its Centinela copper mine.

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The agency had carried out audits at the copper mine site during the period from June 2019 to January 2020, following repeated complaints by the surrounding community about damages on account of their operations. They alleged that the use of water by the mine had threatened the very existence of Loa frog- a critically endangered species that is found only in that particular region, as per studies conducted by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

The SMA audits revealed that the company was largely responsible for the sharp drop in water levels in the area. In a statement, Emmanuel Ibarra, the acting superintendent of the environment, alleged that the company not only failed to report the impacts on Loa frog, but also took no preventive action towards preservation of the species.

Antofagasta has 10 business days to come up with a compliance program in rectification the deficiencies and 15 days to submit its response to charges levelled by the environmental agency.