en.Wedoany.com Reported - Glencore presented its South American growth vision at the Exponor 2026 exhibition, with a portfolio exceeding $5 billion, focusing primarily on copper. Operations Director Pablo Carvallo outlined the progress of projects in Chile and emphasized the company's commitment to the regions where it operates.

Carvallo stated that Glencore's Latin American operations are in a special period, reflected in the intensity of project advancement and resource investment. He noted the significant importance of the Antofagasta region to the company and reviewed its operational history there: over 30 years at Altonorte and 28 years at Lomas Bayas. Currently, a desalination plant at the Collahuasi mine is operational, while Lomas Bayas still holds significant growth potential.

An initiative to build a new copper smelter in Chile is also progressing, driven by Glencore and Codelco based on a memorandum of understanding. Carvallo revealed that the new plant is designed with an annual smelting capacity of 1.5 million tons of copper concentrate, compared to Chile's current annual smelting capacity of 1.1 million tons. The new project will nearly double the country's smelting capacity and adopt higher standards.

Carvallo emphasized that mining growth must proceed in tandem with community development and human capital cultivation. Glencore has implemented educational programs in Chile, Peru, and Argentina, and is committed to strengthening local supplier networks and talent development to meet the demands of the energy transition. He stated that without building community and talent capabilities, it will be difficult to meet future demand for copper and other critical minerals.

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