en.Wedoany.com Reported - Chile's National Mining Association (Sonami) has released its 2025-2026 annual report, focusing on legislative work, the defense of mining rights, and the strengthening of small, medium, and large-scale mining. During its annual meeting, the association presented to its members the main progress in management and a roadmap to address industry challenges.
Representatives from Sonami's three membership tiers learned about the key milestones of the previous period, particularly progress in areas such as the permitting system, legal certainty, mining investment, and legislative initiatives affecting mining activities, including topics related to mining protection and other industry regulations.
Sonami President Jorge Riesco stated that the assembly reaffirmed the association's long-standing concerns, such as amending certain regulations of the Mining Patent Law and the Protected Areas Law, and insisted on adopting measures that can increase production and enhance the mining sector's contribution to the country, with a view to sustainable and long-term mining development.
Vice President of the Medium-Sized Mining Association, Luis Manuel Rodríguez, added that the Council's purpose is to bring legal certainty to members, ensure that legislative processes and procedures respect their rights as an industry association and their mining rights, and continuously monitor developments in the country and mining regions.
President of the Ovalle Mining Association, Cristopher Ardiles, pointed out that local industry associations need to understand the support provided by Sonami and emphasized the importance of maintaining clear accounts and internal transparency within the organization. President of the Araucanía Mining Association, Carlos Medrano, considered the assembly progressive because it discussed the importance of all small-scale miners.
Regional associations also presented their specific challenges, particularly in terms of sustainability, production development, and strengthening local mining activities. President of the Mining Association of the Arica and Parinacota Region, Raúl Muñoz, stated that the key challenge for the region is to become the first with sustainable mining and hopes to obtain Sonami's cooperation to enhance its presence and advance projects. President of the San Felipe Mining Association and Sonami Director, Patricia Beiza, focused on legislative issues, hoping to amend urgent bills such as Law No. 21,621 and Law No. 21,420 in the medium and short term.
According to a study by Sonami's Mining Research Center, Chile's dominant position in global mining has declined from 37% to 23.2%, reflecting a sustained drop in production in recent years. Sonami's Vice President for Small-Scale Mining, Joel Carrizo, discussed the significant challenge currently facing the industry: leveraging mineral and metal prices and finding ways to benefit from them in terms of production, investment, and employment.
Sonami emphasized that the annual report strengthens collaboration between the association and its mining members across the country, demonstrates a positive economic balance, and consolidates a regional industry agenda aimed at defending the association's interests before authorities and service institutions, while promoting more competitive mining development at all levels.
