What have been Consejo Minero and the Chilean Mining Industry's most significant achievements in the past 12 months?

Over the past year, Chile’s mining industry experienced notable performance improvements, and there was an overall positive environment for the development of our activity. In 2024, copper production in Chile increased by 4.9%, and due to favorable copper prices, mineral exports reached nearly US$57 billion. This figure represented 57% of the country’s total exports, reflecting the central role of mining in the national economy.

In this scenario, Consejo Minero advanced public engagement efforts to improve the visibility and understanding of mining. Mining is now one of the most respected and best-evaluated sectors in Chile, with consistently high levels of public trust, as indicated in various local, regional and global surveys. This growth in the perception of our industry is in part thanks to more open communications from the entire mining ecosystem, to which we have contributed with direct communications but also through our participation in Compromiso Minero, of which we are founding members, as well as supported by a growing regional presence of our association. How is Consejo Minero addressing the growing competitiveness of countries like Argentina, Peru and Ecuador?

Compared to peer countries, Chile’s permitting process remains cumbersome and slow, but there are initiatives underway to tackle this. Similarly, there is room to improve in labor productivity based on comparative studies. We are working constructively with public institutions to improve Chile’s performance on this challenge, mainly through the Mining Skills Council, to better align workforce skills with industry needs. What role is Consejo Minero playing in lithium policy?

Chile has tremendous potential in lithium, but we need to move faster. The council’s efforts are focused on building trust among investors and highlighting the strengths of the Chilean regulatory framework.

The council also underscores the need for the state to accelerate decision-making in lithium-related matters. There have been important developments, such as the partnership between Codelco and SQM, and pending decisions from ENAMI on project offers. With SQM joining Consejo Minero last year, the council has strengthened its engagement with the lithium sector and continues to support collaboration between public and private actors. Is there potential for regional mining collaboration in Latin America?

Chile already has a treaty with Argentina to support binational mining projects and is engaged in initiatives with Brazil and Paraguay to develop infrastructure corridors, such as an oceanic corridor that would connect regions across the continent. Mining growth in neighboring countries does not pose a threat to Chile but rather presents an opportunity. It enables Chile to export mining rather than only minerals; knowledge, mining services, and technical expertise to countries that may have resources but lack deep mining experience.

Chile’s mature mining ecosystem, including service providers, engineering firms and trained labor, can be a valuable resource for regional partners. I participated in recent discussions with Latin American development banks and industry associations focused on building a more integrated mining industry across the region. What should the next Chilean government prioritize to maintain mining leadership?

The most urgent priority is addressing the permitting system, a need that is already widely recognized across the political spectrum. We value the government’s efforts in conducting reforms such as the sectoral permitting bill led by the Ministry of Economy and the Agency for the Quality of Public Policy, to streamline processes while maintaining high social and environmental standards.

Chile holds over US$50 billion in mining projects either under construction or in the pipeline. The economic benefits are significant but delays due to inefficient regulation pose real risks. What are Consejo Minero’s strategic plans for the coming year?

Communicating the sector’s contributions and best practices remains a top priority, both to the general public and within decision-making spaces. We will stay actively involved in the private and public sector’s discussions, providing evidence-based arguments to support and shape policies that enable sustainable mining development. And related to this, we will continue contributing to the government-led process of defining a national policy on critical minerals, where Consejo Minero has been invited to participate, necessary to secure Chile’s position as the leading minerals supplier of the world.