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Chile constitutional assembly does not okay expanded state mining rights

08 May 2022 04:27 (UTC +04:00)

Chile's constitutional assembly passed articles expanding environmental rights on Saturday, but stopped short of approving a proposal to give the state exclusive mining rights over lithium, hydrocarbons and rare earth metals and majority ownership of copper mines, APA reports citing Reuters.

Chile is the world's top copper producer and the article faced strong opposition from the country's mining industry. It needed a supermajority of 103 votes to be included into the draft constitution, but only got 66.

The article now returns to the environmental commission, where it will be renegotiated before facing a second vote.

Another article stating that mining regulations will consider environmental protections and the fininte, non-renewable nature of mining resources, was approved and will be in the draft constitution voters will decide to approve or reject on Sept. 4.

In a statement released earlier in the week, the Institute of Mining Engineers opposed the article, saying "temporary authorizations, that don't grant property, generates a type of potential arbitrariness," that could force companies to choose other countries due to mining's high investment costs.