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Chile must pass allowing reforms to unblock investment: BHP

Chile's federal government requirements to quickly authorize a proposal to improve permitting for the mining industry to unlock and promote investment on the planet's. leading copperproducing nation, a top BHP official said on Tuesday

In Chile it is immediate to enhance the authorization system to permit. companies to approve large investment tasks in a timely. manner, BHP President Americas Brandon Craig said during a. panel at the World Copper Conference, which is being held in. Santiago.

This not just uses to new tasks, but likewise to licenses. needed to optimize current operations, he included.

Mining business and industry groups have actually grumbled about. the extensive permitting procedure in Chile. In January, the. federal government provided legal reforms to improve permitting for. financial investments, which can currently reach up to 500 requests from. various authorities.

The reforms still must be approved by Congress, where the. government has dealt with strong opposition. The government was able. to pass a mining tax reform last year, however a significant industry. demand during the dispute was to simplify permitting and. minimize start-up times for multi-million dollar copper tasks,. which is Chile's largest export.

I hope these reforms are authorized quickly so that the. industry can open big mining investments, Craig said.

(source: Reuters)