Weekly Report - 19 January 2023 (WR-23-03)

President Gabriel Boric has delivered on a campaign promise to halt the proposed US$2.5bn Dominga copper and iron mining project in the central region of Coquimbo. A committee of ministers determined on 18 January that the mining project, which would have comprised an open cast copper and iron mine, desalination plants, and a large port, did not satisfy environmental requirements and would provide too significant a threat to water sources, air quality, and wildlife, particularly a nearby protected Humboldt penguin reserve, as well as bottlenose dolphins and several species of whale. The right-of-centre Chile Vamos opposition coalition accused the government of politicising the issue. Andes Iron, the mine owner and operating company, said it would appeal the decision.