en.Wedoany.com Reported - Chile's National Geology and Mining Service (Sernageomin) has approved the final closure of Mina Invierno, marking the first mine in the country to complete its full lifecycle under Law No. 20.551 on Mine Closure (Ley N.º 20.551 de Cierre de Faenas Mineras), setting a precedent for responsible mining management.

This case is historically significant for Chile's mining sector. Fourteen years after the enactment of Mine Closure Law No. 20.551, Mina Invierno, located in the Magallanes Region (Región de Magallanes), has demonstrated that responsible mining operations are possible from extraction through to closure, meeting requirements for post-closure risk control, personnel safety, and environmental protection.

Although operations ceased due to a ruling by the Valdivia Environmental Court (Tribunal Ambiental de Valdivia) concerning socio-environmental impacts, the approved closure plan has allowed the process to proceed in an orderly and safe manner, in accordance with the standards required by current law, and under the continuous supervision of Sernageomin.

Throughout the entire operational life of Mina Invierno, Sernageomin actively monitored compliance with the obligations set forth in the closure plan, including updates, periodic audits, maintenance of financial guarantees, and inspections aimed at verifying the long-term stability of the land. This process involved coordination among different competent public agencies, enabling comprehensive tracking to ensure the company met the standards required to obtain final certification. The measures included in the plan guarantee the physical and chemical stability of the facilities, minimize potential impacts, and contribute to the protection of health and the natural environment.

Sernageomin's Acting National Director, Mauricio Lorca, emphasized that this is a milestone for Chilean mining and public institutions, marking the first time the full cycle stipulated by the closure law has been completed, demonstrating that responsible mining activities are possible from the start of operations through to the end of their useful life. The certification of Mina Invierno reflects the state's long-term commitment to ensuring personnel safety, environmental protection, and the sustainable development of mining activities.

Deputy Director of Mining, Andrés León, added that this achievement is a concrete result of sustained technical work and Sernageomin's long-term accompaniment throughout the different stages of the project. The granted certification proves that the committed measures have been implemented according to the standards required by regulations, ensuring the physical and chemical stability of the facilities and reducing risks to people and the environment. León stated that the experience of Mina Invierno sets a benchmark for future processes in the industry and demonstrates the importance of having regulatory tools to properly manage the risks associated with the end of mining operations.

Fourteen years after its enactment, the closure law has proven its effectiveness as a tool for properly managing the end of mining operations and reducing associated risks. The case of Mina Invierno establishes a replicable model for the national industry in the context of the energy transition and responsible mining, validating that modern regulations can reconcile mining activities with long-term environmental sustainability and territorial responsibility.

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