“Chile environmental regulator files charges against Lundin’s Candelaria mine”, 27 July 2021

...Chile’s environmental regulator SMA filed...six charges against Lundin Mining’s Candelaria copper mine for for breaches in its operational permits, including violations related to its blasting operations. The watchdog said three of the infractions were “minor” and the other three “grave”. They range from exceeding the limit of emissions related to liquid industrial waste to infringing provisions outlined in the mine’s environmental qualification, or RCA for its initials in Spanish. Among the gravest violations, SMA found the mine used more explosives than allowed between August 2019 and April 2020. This, the regulator said, caused an increase in the total emissions generated by the company, which could have risked the health of locals. Another serious charge is linked to the miner’s failure to comply with its commitment to reducing the consumption of freshwater, leading to a loss of underground water at Copiapó river’s aquifer — an area known for its water scarcity...The watchdog also said it had received a number of complaints from local residents, which expected to be addressed by the company along with its own demands in a compliance plan….“Minera Candelaria always complies with current legislation, with the applicable environmental and sector authorizations, and reiterates its unbridled commitment to the development of responsible mining,” the miner said, adding it was studying the charges to determine its next steps...The mining complex is indirectly owned by Lundin Mining (80%) and Sumitomo (20%), with the Toronto-based miner acquiring its ownership from Freeport-McMoRan in 2014...