en.Wedoany.com Reported - Chile's state-owned mining company, Empresa Nacional de Minería (Enami), announced on June 25, 2026, that it has resumed silver ore purchases at three processing plants located in the Atacama and Coquimbo regions as part of its strategy to support small-scale mining. This measure aims to open new business opportunities for small-scale mining producers, boost production activity levels, and contribute to the economic development of the regions where it operates.
Enami is a Chilean state-owned mining enterprise founded in 1960, with its headquarters in the capital city of Santiago. The company's main functions are to acquire and process ore from small and medium-sized mining enterprises, as well as to provide technical services and financial support, making it a key pillar for the development of small-scale mining in Chile. In 2025, Enami achieved profitability for the second consecutive year, with profits reaching $38.9 million and operating performance of $62.9 million, marking its best results in 15 years.
According to information released by Enami, the three processing plants resuming silver ore purchases are the Matta plant in Copiapó, the Vallenar plant, and the Southern Production Complex (formerly the Delta plant) in Ovalle. Enami's Executive Vice President, Juan Carlos Sáez, stated that this measure, combined with other actions directly benefiting small-scale mining producers, will open up new business development opportunities, help increase production activities, and contribute to the economic development of the regions where they operate.
The resumption of silver ore purchases directly benefits small-scale miners, who can sell their products through Enami. With this measure, small-scale miners can restart operations and create more jobs, taking advantage of the favorable market window for current silver ore prices. At the same time, Enami is also strengthening its gold ore purchases, having launched a project in Vallenar that is currently processing large quantities of gold ore.
This resumption of silver ore purchases is an important step for Enami to consolidate its position as an institutional buyer for small-scale and artisanal miners. By advancing simultaneously on both the silver and gold fronts, Enami further strengthens its capacity to support small-scale mining production in Chile's high-potential mining regions, helping to drive local economic vitality and employment growth.
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