The Canadian mining company Lundin Mining, through its subsidiary Minera Ojos del Salado, has received a court decision from Chile’s State Defense Council(CDE) that obliges it to carry out a series of corrective actions at the Alcaparrosa mine, where a sinkhole occurred in July 2022.
Remediation actions after the Alcaparrosa mine sinkhole
As part of the ruling, Minera Ojos del Salado must backfill the sinkhole and facilitate recharge of the affected aquifer. It has also been required to implement a continuous monitoring system in the area and transfer certain groundwater rights. The resolution also includes the implementation of water infrastructure projects for the benefit of nearby rural communities, with the objective of improving access to drinking water and sanitation.
Since the collapse on the ground, mining activities have been mining activities at Alcaparrosa have been suspended. The mineral reserves previously booked at this unit were removed from the company’s inventory and are not included in current production projections.
Despite the impact, the company has maintained its active collaboration with the authorities, providing monitoring technologies and technical studies to clarify the causes of the incident and guarantee the stability of the land.
While Alcaparrosa continues to be inoperative, other mines are mines mines, such as Candelaria, continue to operate. By 2025, the latter is expected to maintain an estimated production of between 140,000 and 150,000 tons of copper, unaffected by the events in the Atacama Region.
Source and photo: Lundin Mining
