Chile’s environmental regulator, the Superintendency of the Environment (SMA), has filed four charges against Anglo American’s Los Bronces mine for noncompliance with environmental permits. The charges could carry a fine of nearly $17.17 million.
Los Bronces, one of Chile’s largest copper mines, produced 255,000 metric tons of copper last year and is a key project for Anglo American. The mine, controlled by Anglo American, has been accused of failing to address environmental issues dating back to 2014, including the failure to resolve acid drainage at the Esteriles Donoso tailings deposit.
The SMA found that Anglo American’s subsidiary, Anglo American Sur, failed to implement a definitive solution to the acid drainage issue, which was previously sanctioned in 2014. The company is also accused of not designing a mitigation system for acid waters collected downstream of the Esteriles deposit, and not taking measures to control seepage in the Las Tortolas tailings dam.
In addition, the SMA found that Anglo American had not reported complete data related to water and tailings, a violation categorized as “minor.” The company has 15 days to present a mitigation program and 22 days to contest the charges.
This is not the first time Anglo American has faced environmental issues in Chile. Earlier this month, the SMA also filed three charges against the company’s El Soldado copper mine in the ValparaÃso region. Anglo American has said it is analyzing the current charges and will determine its next steps.
