en.Wedoany.com Reported - Chile's National Mining Company (Empresa Nacional de Minería, Enami) announced in June 2026 that, as part of its strategy to support small-scale mining, it has resumed silver ore purchases at three processing plants in the Atacama and Coquimbo regions. At the same time, the company is advancing several initiatives to strengthen its gold ore processing capabilities, including the commissioning of a gold concentrate processing line in Vallenar and an international tender for approximately 450,000 tons of gold-bearing ore from its stockpiles.
Enami, founded in 1960 and headquartered in the capital Santiago, is a state-owned mining enterprise in Chile. Its main functions include acquiring and processing ore from small and medium-sized mining companies, as well as providing technical services and financial support. 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. This move will allow small-scale producers in the Atacama and Coquimbo regions to once again sell silver ore through Enami, broadening their commercial channels amid favorable silver price prospects.
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 activity, and contribute to the economic development of the regions where it operates. Through this initiative, small miners can take advantage of the current favorable market window for silver ore prices to resume operations and create more jobs.
In the gold sector, Enami has simultaneously strengthened its gold ore procurement and processing. The company launched a project in Vallenar and is currently processing large quantities of gold ore. Additionally, Enami has decided to activate a pilot production line at the Vallenar plant to directly process gold-bearing ore from its stockpiles. Mining Minister Daniel Mas stated that this move is a potential alternative to the ongoing international tender, aimed at achieving greater value for the company. Earlier, in March, Enami initiated a bidding process to sell over 400,000 tons of stockpiled gold ore, with an average grade of approximately 3 to 4 grams per ton. According to the minister, nine offers for gold-bearing concentrate have been received, and the tender process is in its final stages.
The resumption of silver ore purchases and the strengthening of gold ore processing capabilities are key measures 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 has further enhanced its ability to support small-scale mining production in Chile's high-potential mining regions, helping to drive local economic vitality and employment growth.
