The fact that 78% of the energy consumed by Chile’s mining industry is sourced from renewable generation (according to Cochilco data) is clear evidence of the sector’s competitiveness. In an industry where energy can account for up to 30% of operating costs, the transition toward a renewable energy matrix is not only a necessity, but also a strategic decision.
Operations such as Quebrada Blanca (Teck), which consumes the equivalent of approximately 2% of national electricity demand entirely from renewable sources, as well as Escondida and Spence (BHP) and El Abra (Freeport-McMoRan), which certified 100% renewable power supply several years ago, demonstrate that this transformation is no longer aspirational—it has already taken place.
At the regional level, this transition has entailed more than US$300 million in private investment in energy infrastructure in the Arica and Parinacota Region.
In the context of global regulatory requirements such as the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which places increasing emphasis on low-carbon imports, Chile has both the opportunity and the responsibility to position itself as a supplier of the world’s most traceable and lowest-carbon copper.
The Chilean mining industry’s decision to channel its energy demand toward clean sources has enabled the country to build a competitive, low-emissions energy base—one that now constitutes a structural advantage at the national level.
“As Compromiso Minero, we believe that the true value of Chilean copper no longer resides solely in its geological grade, but in the clean energy used to produce it. That is the genuine leadership Chile is projecting to the world today,” stated Juan Carlos Guajardo, Executive Director of Plusmining and signatory of Compromiso Minero.
Source: Revista Minera Crisol