"Penguins and red tape: Chile says 'no' to $2.5 bln Dominga mine again", 08 January 2025

...Chile's government...denied an environmental permit for the proposed Dominga iron and copper mine, siding with critics concerned over impacts to penguins and parrots at the $2.5 billion project that has sparked debate for a decade.

Chile's Committee of Ministers said the plan from privately-owned Andes Iron required special sensitivity due to the area's "unique characteristics" as a home to penguins and species in conservation categories which reduced the tolerance for risk.

...The committee's decision came after an environmental court ordered it to re-do a January 2023 vote that had struck down environmental approvals for the project.

Chile-based Andes Iron has repeatedly defended the mine as meeting environmental regulations and on Wednesday said it will take legal action...The company has also accused the government of bias against the project, pointing to the nearby Cruz Grande port that was granted an environmental permit...