en.Wedoany.com Reported - The plenary session of Chile's Chamber of Deputies approved, with 107 votes in favor, 20 abstentions, and 2 against, a bill to simplify the application and payment system for mining concession patent fees. This is the first mining legislative initiative proposed by the administration of President José Antonio Kast. The bill will now proceed to the Mining and Energy Committee of the Senate for discussion in the second constitutional stage.
The bill proposes amendments to the patent system established in the Mining Code. Key measures include eliminating conditions such as patent increments, the 500-hectare requirement, kinship ties, and the classification of small mining companies, thereby simplifying the application process. Additionally, the bill introduces a new ground for patent fee exemption due to exploration activities, allowing producers to avoid applying for this benefit annually. It also retains the proportional payment of patent fees in mining rights until the first year of establishment, with monthly payments equivalent to one-tenth of a tax unit.
Daniel Mas, Minister of Economy and Mining, stated that this is long-awaited good news for small-scale miners, particularly those in the northern and central regions affected by the historic frontal system. He emphasized that the proposal aims to establish a regulatory framework that encourages exploration investment and provides flexible compliance tools for small-scale mining, which is crucial for dozens of cities, especially in the north.
Álvaro González, Deputy Minister of Mining, noted after the vote that the initiative helps improve the situation of small-scale miners: first, by eliminating the kinship requirement and company types that hindered access to benefits, simplifying entry; second, by removing patent increments for those unable to conduct activities; and third, by expanding the scope of benefits to include not only concession holders but also lessees and legal miners.
Once the bill is passed in the Senate, mining activities will benefit from a more favorable general patent system, with clearly defined grounds for exemptions, aligning the system with the country's mining development goals.
