"Antofagasta fined for breaking water extraction rules in drought-ridden Chilean region", 27 April 2024

...Chile’s General Water Directorate (DGA) issued a $695,000 fine to Antofagasta Minerals’ Minera Los Pelambres for the unauthorized extraction of surface and groundwater and for not complying with the water distribution rules established by the Choapa River Surveillance Board.

The fine resulted from an investigation for possible breaches of the Water Code launched in July 2021 by the Regional Water Directorate, which belongs to the Coquimbo Public Infrastructure Ministry.

In addition to the financial penalty, Los Pelambres was ordered to immediately stop unauthorized water extractions and abide by the water distribution rules established by the Choapa River Surveillance Board...

Minera Los Pelambres maintains that it has always acted in accordance with current water regulations, both at the time of the inspection and currently.

“The company is analyzing the legal course to follow, since it is certain that it has historically complied with all the provisions that the authorities have established in water matters, making use of their legally constituted water rights,” Marisol Díaz, public affairs manager of Minera Los Pelambres, said in an emailed statement...