The Dominga mining and port project, owned by Andes Iron, has become one of Chile's most controversial extractive projects in recent years due to its proximity to the Humboldt Archipelago, one of the most biodiverse marine ecosystems in the South Pacific. Environmentalists have warned that the construction of the mine and its associated port could threaten endangered species such as the Humboldt penguin, whales and dolphins, as well as harm artisanal fishing and eco-tourism.

Authorities and independent experts have pointed to gaps in its Environmental Impact Assessment. As a result, Dominga has been rejected, reconsidered and reviewed multiple times since 2017.