“BHP to spend up to $93 mln under Chilean environmental court agreement” - June 2 2021

The lawsuit related to BHP's Escondida copper mine, the world's biggest, and the agreement involves the payment of compensation for environmental damage due to overdrawing water from the Punta Negra salt flat.

The lawsuit had been brought last year by the Chilean state which claimed Escondida had between 1990 and 2017 caused a severe decline in levels of the salt flat’s aquifer, partially or totally caused the loss of wetlands and vegetation and compromised the survival of its fauna.

The First Environmental Court, based in the northern Chilean city of Antofagasta, said on Wednesday it had rubber-stamped what it described as an "unprecedented" agreement that included a total of 19 measures to be taken by the miner.

These measures including technical studies of the salt flat and the drawing up of a management plan to repair damage that will require fresh approval from the environment ministry.