Mining Activists Sue Copper Company for Environmental Pollution in Chile
In the heart of Chile's Antofagasta region, Calama, known as the copper mining capital, has been grappling with an environmental and health crisis for over two decades. The city, home to 200,000 inhabitants, is the epicentre of over 700 mining projects, many of which have been licensed since Calama was declared a "saturated zone" with air pollution levels exceeding national limits back in 2009.
Mining giants, including Codelco, operate three enormous mines in the area, including Chuquicamata, one of the deepest in the world. Despite the economic boom, the region has witnessed a worsening of air pollution, with local press information and complaints from the Chilean Medical Association describing the situation as a health emergency.
The environmental cleanup plan, required by law within 12 months of the declaration, was only presented 13 years later in May 2022. However, the plan was met with resistance from residents and activists due to false scenarios and insufficient solutions. The First Environmental Tribunal of Chile annulled the plan in 2023.
The pollution in Calama is not confined to the air. Failures in the containment systems of the Talabre dam, which has been accumulating waste from the Chuquicamata mine since 1952, have caused the contamination of groundwater, affecting the Loa River and the city's main aquifer. Recent scientific studies show an increase in heavy metals during periods of intense mining activity, with dispersion covering up to 80 kilometers.
A coalition of 20 social organizations has filed a lawsuit against the state for environmental pollution after 20 years of denunciations. The lawsuit seeks to make the polluter (Codelco) pay for damages, cancel new licenses, and conduct studies on the health of the population to determine impacts and compensations.
The lawsuit is led by Reinaldo Díaz Duk, a former air pollution monitor, who leads the first citizen-led environmental monitoring unit in Chile, established in Calama in 2023. The unit has been instrumental in documenting the extent of the pollution and advocating for change.
Chile, the world's largest producer of copper, exports more than 19% of its copper to China between 2023 and 2024. Codelco, the national copper company, plans to expand operations in the Ministro Hales mine over the next 30 years.
Tailings dams, reservoirs designed to prevent liquid and solid waste generated by mining processes from contaminating nearby areas, are a crucial part of mining operations. However, their maintenance and safety are under scrutiny in Calama, where the scale of open-pit mines is impressive, with everything counted in thousands or millions, including rocks, toxic chemicals, industrial acids, and detergents.
The environmental crisis in Calama is a testament to the urgent need for sustainable mining practices and stricter environmental regulations. The ongoing lawsuit against Codelco and the Chilean state marks a significant step towards holding polluters accountable and ensuring a cleaner, healthier future for the people of Calama.
