Chile’s environmental commission approved the $2.5bn Dominga project for copper and iron mining. The commission previously rejected the proposal but was revived by the ruling to reassess by a local environmental court in April. This week, the Coquimbo regional commission voted 11-1 in support of commencing the project.
Diego Hernandez, president of Chile’s National Mining Society noted that the eight-year approval process was disproportionate and bemoaned that despite the commission’s approval that the legal challenges anticipated may further delay the project beyond a starting point in 2021. The site is near ecological reserves and critics are concerned about the long-term effect on the environment from the project.