Codelco’s Ministro Hales life extended to 2054 plus production to increase following EIA approval
The Environmental Assessment Commission (COEVA) of the Antofagasta Region has unanimously approved the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for Codelco’s Ministro Hales Division (DMH) Future Development project, which will extend the operation of the mine from 2026 to 2054, with an investment of US$2.8 billion.
Among the most significant milestones of the assessment process was the largest consultation with Indigenous Peoples in the history of the Environmental Impact Assessment System (SEIA), which involved 46 Indigenous Peoples’ Groups (GHPPI). This dialogue process allowed for substantial improvements to the project design and benefits to the quality of life of the residents of Calama.
DMH is Codelco’s youngest division. It began operations in 2013, currently produces approximately 170,000 t of fine copper annually, and employs nearly 4,000 people, including both direct employees and contractors. With the approval of this project, the operation will increase its extraction capacity from 500,000 t/d to 550,000 t/d, and processing capacity will rise from 57,000 t/d to 65,000 t/d, reaching an approximate annual production of 200,000 t of fine copper. The project will exclusively use desalinated water or water from authorised third parties, reinforcing Codelco’s commitment to sustainability.
“This approval is a clear sign of Codelco’s commitment to responsible mining and the country’s sustainable development. Ministro Hales is a strategic operation, and its continuity ensures jobs, investment, and value for Chile,” commented Rubén Alvarado, CEO of Codelco. Meanwhile, DMH’s Acting General Manager, César Jiménez, highlighted the work carried out since the project entered the Environmental Impact Assessment System (SEIA) in August 2023. “We have worked intensively for more than two years in a transparent and participatory process, incorporating improvements that address community concerns and the highest environmental standards,” he reflected.
The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) also considers measures to mitigate impacts on water, air, and the landscape. For example, hydraulic barriers will be implemented to protect the San Salvador River and the Calama-Yalquincha aquifer, and particulate matter emission control systems will be strengthened, reducing emissions at the mine from 3,500 t/y to 3,080 t/y. In addition, the project includes more than 30 voluntary environmental commitments and concrete actions for the city of Calama, such as the paving of more than 15 kilometres of streets and alleyways, the construction of the 15-hectare Northwest Park, street sweeping and vacuuming, and programs to promote agriculture and renewable energy, among others.
“This project marks a milestone in the environmental management of Chilean mining. It includes innovative measures to reduce emissions, protect water resources, and ensure harmonious development with the environment,” highlighted Humberto Rivas, Codelco’s Environmental Manager. With this approval, Codelco says it reaffirms its commitment to responsible production, backed by the international Copper Mark certification, and to the sustainable development of the Antofagasta Region, ensuring the continuity of a strategic operation for the country and for copper mining.
DMH’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) conducted an extensive Early Citizen Participation process starting in late 2022, engaging over 90% of the territorial organisations in Calama and 46 Indigenous organisations. This process aimed to ensure transparency regarding the project’s characteristics, its impacts, and the control, mitigation, and compensation measures. Specifically, the Indigenous Peoples Consultation became the largest in the history of the Environmental Impact Assessment System (SEIA), with the participation of 46 Indigenous Peoples’ Groups (GHPPI). More than 200 dialogue meetings were held with these groups between May 2024 and December 2025, reflecting a broad, in-depth, and highly participatory process. The agreements reached include measures to mitigate the impact of PM10, urban and road infrastructure works, agricultural development programs, reforestation, renewable energy and traditional medicine initiatives, and monitoring and traceability mechanisms.
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