Chile








Fossil Fuels

Environment

Climate Change

Chile takes new measures to save the endangered Darwin's Frog

Chile has launched an effort to save Darwin's Frogs, tiny amphibians with leaf-like skin. The males of these amphibians carry tadpoles in pouches inside their mouths. The Climate Change and Sustainability Committee of the Chilean Government has launched an initiative to protect habitats, reproductive areas and working with private landowners. The goal of the project is to find new populations and, if feasible, increase the size of current populations. Originally thought to be one species, the frog actually consists of two species: the endangered Rhinoderma darwinii, also known as the Southern Darwin's Frog, and the Rhinoderma darwinii, or Northern Darwin's...

Environment

Scientists say that coastal erosion in Chile could wipe out 10 beaches in a decade.

According to a group of scientists, the central and southern coasts of Chile, which stretch for thousands (miles) on the Pacific Ocean, are at risk of erosion, which could lead to the disappearance or 10 beaches within the next decade. In an interview conducted this month at the Renaca Beach near Vina del Mar, the director of the Coastal Observatory of Universidad Catolica said, "It's going to be very hard for these beaches in the next 10 year," Her team tracked erosion at 67 beaches and found that 86% of them are shrinking steadily -- even in spring and summer...

Environment

Bankers in Latin America urge Latin America's governments to lower barriers to attract renewable energy funds

Multilateral bank executives stated on Tuesday that Latin American countries must address regulatory barriers, improve electric interconnection and enhance project structuring for renewable energy to attract the $200 billion investment needed annually to make the energy transformation a reality. The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) organized an event in Colombia’s capital Bogota, where executives spoke. Why it's important Energy infrastructure investments in the region are below global averages. This could make it difficult for it to achieve its climate and energy targets. KEY QUOTES Felix Fernandez is the Director for Latin America and the Caribbean of...

Environment

Indigenous groups ask Chilean court to stop community review of Codelco/SQM lithium deal

According to documents reviewed by, two indigenous groups in northern Chile asked a local judge to suspend the state-led process of community review that was required to approve a partnership between copper miner Codelco and lithium mining company SQM. Last week, the Indigenous community of Coyo and Atacameno Association of Irrigators and Farmers of San Pedro de Atacama filed separate legal challenges with the Chilean Appeal Court in the Antofagasta Region. They accused the Chilean Economic Development Agency Corfo of failing to properly conduct a consultation process for their input regarding the partnership. This is the last condition for the...

Environment

Human hair is a water-saving device in Chile, a country that has been hit by drought.

The small mats of hair at the base of the plants help to lock in moisture in orchards in Chile, which have suffered from drought for many years. According to the Matter of Trust Chile Foundation, who makes the mats, the hair is turned into sheets or discs of compostable mulch through mechanical weaving. This reduces direct evaporation of up to 71%, and can save as much as 48% of irrigation. "Hair is interesting. "Hair is very interesting. Maria Salazar, a farmer in Taltal in the arid Antofagasta Region of Chile, said that the hair had helped her get optimum...

Environment

Growing lettuce with fog in Chile's Atacama desert, the world's driest.

Researchers and growers in Chile's Atacama desert, the driest place on earth, are trying to capture moisture from fog to grow lemons and lettuces. They use a net that catches the drops. Near Chanaral, in the Atacama desert, where there are areas that have not seen rain for years, Orlando Rojas told reporters, "We grow hydroponic lettuce completely with fog water." "We've tried other crops and they didn't work, so we tended to do lettuce." Researchers at the UC Atacama Desert Center have launched a web-based mapping tool that allows anyone to see the locations of areas in the country...

Climate Change

Mining and warming waters are threatening Chile's underwater forests

Underwater forests teem with life in the icy waters off Chile's northern coast. Red and green towers of seaweed rise from the ocean floor. They provide food for wildlife and income for the locals, as well as oxygen and carbon for the planet. Scientists believe that these forests have even greater potential for sustainable food, protein and other materials, despite the fact that they are threatened due to human pollution and warming oceans. "They form a band along the coastal edge, which is essentially an armour of protection and biodiversity," said Alejandra González, a marine scientist from the University of...

Environment

The UN honors South America's camelids as heroes of the high plateau

Llamas and alpacas are being celebrated as the heroes of South America's high plateaus because they have adapted to harsh climates and environments, and their value is cultural, economic, and ecological. Early May, representatives from Chile, Bolivia and Ecuador met in Antofagasta, a city in northern Chile, to celebrate animals and improve management strategies. The meeting was sponsored by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization. Andres Gonzales, regional officer of Animal Health and Production for the FAO said that these animals were considered heroes because they thrived in harsh environments like the high plateau. They have a natural toughness that...

Climate Change

U.N.: Global temperatures are increasing and melting glaciers around the world.

According to a report by UNESCO released on Friday, glaciers are disappearing more quickly than ever. The last three years saw the greatest loss of mass on record. Michael Zemp of the Switzerland-based World Glacier Monitoring Service said that the 9,000 gigatons (or a quarter of a million tons) of ice lost by glaciers since 1975 is roughly equivalent to an ice block as large as Germany and with a thickness of 25 meters. This was revealed at a Geneva press conference to announce the report. Climate change caused by fossil fuels will likely cause global temperatures to rise, accelerating...

Environment

The dwindling glaciers are putting the Patagonian Ice Dragon, a resilient insect of Chile, at risk.

The Patagonian Ice Dragon of Chile is a tiny, but mighty insect. It lives in frozen glaciers and feeds on algae and bacteria. It is now an endangered species due to global warming, which is accelerating the loss of glaciers. Maribet Gamboa is a researcher from Chile's UCSC University. She leads a study aimed at conserving the Patagonian dragon, and the glaciers that it lives in. The research is aimed at understanding the Patagonian Dragon and the glacier. Gamboa added that scientists had taken samples of the insect in order to determine the genes which have been adapted to the...

Natural Gas Utilities

Chile fines Italy's Enel $19 million over 2024 power outages

The Chilean government fined Italian electrical energy supplier Enel's regional system $19 million on Wednesday over prolonged power interruptions in 2024. In a statement, the federal government stated it was fining the company over four violations after heavy storms at the end of the Southern Hemisphere winter season last August caused extended power outages, in many cases lasting more than 15 days. Chile's SEC electrical regulator stated the company failed to correctly preserve its facilities, took too long to restore power, stopped working to turn over details to the federal government and did not have an appropriate system to get...

Pollution

Chile's uncommon salt flat fish deals with threat from lithium mining project

At more than 3,700 meters (12,000 feet) above water level, the karachi. swims happily in thick salt flat waters, however residents worry a. future lithium task will threaten this extremeenvironment. fish. The Orestias ascotanensis is a little ray-finned fish that. grows to simply 7.5 centimeters (3 inches), however has actually adjusted to the. Ascotan salt flat's high concentrations of heavy metals and. variable salinity. The salt flat likewise sees high solar radiation and temperature level. variations that reach 26 Celsius (79 Fahrenheit) throughout the day. and below freezing in the evening, according to Marco Mendez, a. teacher at the University...

Mining

Mining

Japan copper smelters are in a heated debate with global mines over the processing fee

The head of the Japan Mining Industry Association said that Japanese copper smelters will face difficult mid-year negotiations over treatment and processing fees (TC/RCs). They won't be accepting the extremely low terms Chinese smelters have agreed to with their suppliers. Last month, some Chinese smelters reached TC/RC agreements of $0 per ton and $0 cents per kilogram with Chilean miner Antofagasta. These rates are considered an industry benchmark, and they compare to the 2025 annual charges of $21.25 per ton and 2.125cents per pound that were agreed between Chilean miner Antofagasta and Chinese smelters. According to two sources in the...

Mining

Source: India is in discussions with Chile and Peru to source vital minerals

A source in the trade ministry said that India has been holding discussions with Chile and Peru about sourcing critical minerals as part of ongoing free trade negotiations. According to a document released by the government earlier this month, India, which relies on imports to meet its demand, had already planned to include an entire chapter on copper during the trade negotiations with the two South American nations to ensure a certain quantity of copper concentrat. The document stated that India imports more than 90% its copper concentrate requirements, and this dependency will increase to 97% in 2047. The source...

Mining

Trump announces a 50% tariff on Copper Effective August 1

The U.S. president Donald Trump announced a new tariff of 50% on copper that will begin on August 1, in an effort to promote the domestic development of a critical industry for defense, electronics and autos. This is the latest of a series of tariffs Trump has imposed on sectors such as steel, aluminum and other metals. Economists have warned that this will increase costs for American consumers. Trump announced on Tuesday that he would be imposing new tariffs on the copper market, causing U.S. Comex futures copper prices to reach record highs. In February, the White House launched a...

Mineral Resources

Coal

Oil & Gas

Investors react positively to a wave of corporate earnings, boosting UK shares

British stocks rose Wednesday, as investors considered mixed corporate results. The main indexes are poised to end a volatile, but largely positive, month. They have almost recovered from the losses caused by U.S. Trade policies. The blue-chip FTSE 100 index was up 0.1% as of 1009 GMT and is on course for its 13th consecutive session with a positive result. The midcap index, which is primarily focused on domestic companies, advanced by 0.7% to reach its sixth consecutive session of gains. Despite recovering from the steep tariffs announced in early this month, FTSE 100 is still poised to report a...

Coal

Anglo American reports lower copper output in the first quarter

Anglo American, a global miner, reported on Thursday a 15% drop in its production of copper for the first three months of the year. However, the company left the yearly forecast unchanged. The London-listed company said that copper production dropped to 169,000 tons in the first quarter of this year. It attributed the drop in production in Chile. The copper production in 2025 is expected to range between 690,000 - 750,000 tonnes. As the world shifts to cleaner energy sources, it is expected that metals will be used more for electric vehicles and renewable facilities. Prices for industrial metals have...

Coal

UK's FTSE 100 rises as mining stocks shine

The UK's benchmark FTSE 100 rose on Monday. Investors were also waiting for more clarity about U.S. president Donald Trump's proposed tariffs. The blue-chip FTSE 100 index was up 0.19%. The domestically-focused FTSE 250 index gained 0.12%. Anglo American Antofagasta Rio Tinto Glencore Fresnillo and Fresnillo are among the top gainers in the blue-chip index. They rose between 3.6% and 2.4%. The copper price in London has also risen, following the weakness of the dollar. The pan-European STOXX 600 index rose 0.4%, led by mining stocks. This week, key economic data will be released including UK inflation numbers, a budget...

Coal

Chilean power restored partially after massive outage, as copper mines are brought back online

Chile's major copper mines and power grids are coming back online after a major power outage that rocked this world's leading producer of red metal. Power companies are working to restore full system operation, according to authorities. A transmission line failure in the north of the country caused the power outage that struck Tuesday afternoon, plunging most of the nation into darkness. Major mines were also left without electricity, causing global metal markets to be shook. The National Electricity Coordinator of Chile (CEN), in its early morning report Wednesday, said that more than 90% of the residential consumption was restored....

Oil & Gas Exploration

Chile to lift copper output 6% in next years, with peak in 2027

Chile, the world's No. 1 copper manufacturer, will improve its output of the red metal to 5.54 million metric loads in 2034, representing a 5.6% increase from 2023, staterun copper commission Cochilco stated on Wednesday. The Latin American nation produced 23.6% of the world's. copper in 2024, Cochilco said. That amount is anticipated to. boost, with Chile's hold over the industry representing a. 27.3% share by 2034, it added. Cochilco stated it expected Chile to reach a peak production. level in 2027, mining 6.07 million lots of copper that year. From there, annual output is anticipated to change at lower....

Coal

BHP set to detail copper growth plans on Chile roadshow, experts state

BHP Group is likely to expand strategies next week to invest at least $7 billion over the coming years to recuperate more metal from the world's. most significant copper mine, Escondida in Chile, financiers and analysts. stated on Thursday. The world's greatest noted miner will be hosting analysts. and financiers on a roadshow of its Escondida and Spence copper. operations from Nov. 17-20. BHP did not react to an ask for. remark about the discussion. Copper is key to BHP's development plans as a necessary metal. for the global shift to cleaner energy, but its yearly. production is set to...

Coal

Anglo American copper, diamond output down in Q3, 2024 guidance unchanged

International miner Anglo American on Thursday published doubledigit falls in its thirdquarter copper and diamond production however preserved its 2024 guidance for the commodities. Anglo stated its copper output fell 13% in the July to September quarter, while rough diamond production decreased by 25% on cuts due to prolonged lower demand. Its De Beers diamonds system is exploring alternatives for even more output cuts in future, Anglo stated. For the first 9 months of 2024, copper output fell 4% to 575,000 tons and diamond production was down 21% at 18.9 million carats. Anglo still expects to produce 730,000-790,000 tons of...

Coal

Anglo American not a sitting duck after break up, CEO states

Anglo American Plc will not be an unavoidable takeover target after its unbundles its diamond, platinum, nickel and coal properties, CEO Duncan Wanblad said on Thursday. The mining giant is restructuring its business to primarily focus on energy transition metal copper after fending off a $49. billion takeover offer from bigger rival BHP Group in. May. Some analysts have stated Anglo's simplified portfolio could. make it a much more compelling acquisition target for suitors. drawn to its copper assets. Wanblad attended to concerns about another potential quote in a. virtual address to a mining conference in Johannesburg. I don't think...

Coal

Copper processing charges could fall even more next year, states Chile copper commission

An international mined copper shortage will continue into 2025, putting pressure on processing charges that were currently at historic lows this year due to the expansion of smelters, said Chile's staterun copper commission Cochilco in a research study on Thursday. Miners or intermediaries pay treatment and refining charges ( TC/RCs) to smelters to process copper concentrate into refined metal. Scarcities of copper concentrate this year have currently forced some Chinese smelters to cut output, and experts expect further cuts next year. Cochilco said it forecasts demand for concentrates to rise 10.5% next year as China and India improve their smelting...

Coal

BHP's quick strike repair sets tone for labor talks amid copper rally

Mining giant BHP's. fast repair to a recent sixday strike at its substantial Escondida. copper mine in Chile might set the tone for upcoming. settlements in other places, with workers emboldened by high copper. rates to promote a larger share of the earnings. Members of Escondida's powerful Union No. 1 signed a. sweetened offer on Sunday after walking off the job a week back. when contract talks collapsed, requiring better pay and benefits. at the world's most significant copper mine. With a preliminary handle hand currently on Friday, a union. lawyer had actually called the contract its biggest recent victory.....

Coal

Investors relieved BHP strolled from $49 bln Anglo takeover offer

BHP Group financiers welcomed the leading worldwide miner's decision to ignore a $49. billion strategy to take control of Anglo American, which. rejected three proposed deals from its larger rival over the. past 6 weeks. BHP's choice to withhold a binding quote came after Anglo. stated it would not approve the Australia-headquartered mining group. an additional extension to settle details of an offer that called. for Anglo to initially spin off its South African assets. The advancements ended a tense standoff between the two. worldwide mining giants and negotiations in which shareholders. warned BHP not to pay excessive to secure...

Coal

Fight for Anglo's copper assets tests BHP's willpower as deadline looms

BHP's. deal with to add more copper to its portfolio will be evaluated by. Anglo American investors' demands for a simpler deal. for the whole business or a money sweetener to clinch a deal that. could become the greatest in mining history. Anglo on Wednesday provided BHP, the world's greatest noted. miner, extra time to present a binding deal, after. turning down three takeover proposals which it stated undervalued the. business and would be tough to execute. The one-week window offers BHP another shot at beating. Anglo CEO Duncan Wanblad's restructuring plan by convincing. those concerned about the worth and...