BHP’s Cerro Colorado copper mine is revisiting its environmental plan after the Chilean court adhered to the Superior Court’s January 2021 decision that annulled a 2019 approval for the project.
The Antofagasta Environmental Tribunal upheld the complaints of indigenous communities that the process did not consider effects on a regional aquifer and other natural resources as well as air pollution risks.
Cerro Colorado produced about 1.2pc of Chile’s copper output in 2020. The company will continue operating as it redesigns the new environmental plan. It is too early to determine operational capacity after executing the upgrades once the new plan is submitted and approved.