en.Wedoany.com Reported - Antofagasta PLC announced at the 2026 World Mining Congress that it plans to increase production by 30% by 2030 through expanding its operations in Chile, introducing new technologies, and optimizing existing infrastructure.

During a panel discussion titled "From Urgency to Action," Executive President and CEO Iván Arriagada stated that the mining industry has both the opportunity and the responsibility to address the growing global demand for critical minerals for the energy transition. He noted that the urgency lies in responding to this demand responsibly through new and increasing production, while generating benefits for the communities and countries where operations are based.

Arriagada identified innovation as one of the main drivers for achieving this goal. He pointed out that adopting new technologies and more efficient processes will accelerate project development, improve operational productivity, reduce risks, and optimize capital use. He also highlighted the potential of brownfield expansion projects, which offer a unique competitive advantage in responding more quickly to market demand, thanks to existing geological knowledge, established infrastructure, and pre-existing relationships with communities.

Arriagada also warned of the need to close gaps that constrain the development of new mining projects, particularly lengthy regulatory approval cycles, and emphasized the necessity of strengthening government-industry cooperation to accelerate strategic investments. With multiple studies predicting a significant copper supply deficit by 2035, he sees this as both a challenge and an opportunity for copper-producing countries, noting that Latin America, with its geological and operational advantages, can play a key role in global mineral supply.

He concluded by calling for the recognition and differentiation of minerals produced under strict environmental and social standards, promoting mechanisms that assign value to responsible and sustainable practices within global supply chains. The challenge, he said, is not only to produce more, but to do so in a way that benefits communities and strengthens trust in mining as an engine of development.

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