Diversified miners Anglo American and Glencore on May 18 acknowledged a ruling made by Chile's Second Environmental Tribunal, which purported to set aside the environmental authorisation issued by the Environmental Assessment Service (SEA) for the Collahuasi copper mine pending an infrastructure development and production capacity improvement project.

The project includes the installation of a water desalination plant for the mine, which Anglo confirmed is almost complete.

Anglo and Glencore each hold a 44% equal stake in the Compañía Minera Doña Inés de Collahuasi, one of the world's largest copper mines located in northern Chile. The remaining 12% is owned by a Japanese consortium led by Mitsui & Co.

Anglo cited the Tribunal´s press release that its ruling is limited to two specific aspects relating to analysis on the effects on a local community and on the marine environment. The companies are in the process of seeking full clarification from the Tribunal to determine the specific effects of its ruling, the matters that it requires SEA to re-examine, and any impact on Collahuasi's operations.

Based on the information currently available and subject to the existing alternative water sources for Collahuasi, Anglo did not expect any immediate impact on production. Collahuasi is seeking clarity on the ruling from both the Tribunal and the SEA, to which Anglo would provide further updates.

Collahuasi confirmed that the environmental permitting process for the project was carried out in accordance with local regulations and under the relevant environmental framework. The environmental authorisation was obtained in December 2021, following a rigorous assessment process led by the SEA, including the indigenous consultation defined by the competent authority. This was subsequently confirmed by the Ministers Committee in August 2023.

Collahuasi said it would continue to work in coordination with the relevant authorities and stakeholders, acting responsibly and in accordance with the legal framework, in order to determine the appropriate next steps.