en.Wedoany.com Reported - BHP has submitted a project plan to Chile's Environmental Impact Assessment System (SEIA) aimed at extending the operational life of the Cerro Colorado mine by 20 years through improvements and expansions of mining facilities and the implementation of a new water supply system.

The project investment amounts to $1.5 billion, with the construction phase expected to create approximately 1,500 jobs and the operational phase over 3,000. The company stated that the project's water solution involves using treated domestic wastewater, transported via a pipeline over 100 kilometers from the city of Alto Hospicio to the mine site—a solution unprecedented for mining projects in the Tarapacá Region.

Dee Lingenfelder, President of Pampa Norte, said the project offers an opportunity to build a new phase for Cerro Colorado, incorporating solutions to address current challenges in water management, environmental protection, and community relations. The company aims to create a future-oriented operation that contributes to the sustainable growth of the Tarapacá Region and Chile's copper production.

The company emphasized that the project underwent an early dialogue process using a public-private territorial discussion tool known as the "Voluntary Early Participation Agreement (AVPT)," promoted by Chile's Agency for Sustainability and Climate Change. This dialogue lasted 15 months before the submission of the Environmental Impact Assessment study, bringing together different stakeholders and representatives from the Tarapacá Region to discuss and prioritize the project's value proposition for the area. Additionally, open houses and other participatory activities were organized to ensure the integration of all stakeholders and the cultural relevance of the project's area of influence.