Miners Urge Chile To Cut Bureaucracy Before Country Loses Copper Leadership

Multinational miners BHP (NYSE:BHP) and Anglo American (OTCQX:AAUKF) urge the Chilean government to reduce bureaucratic obstacles, preparing to invest billions into expanding the country's copper output.

With demand for the metal expected to surge in the coming years, both companies warn that Chile risks losing its competitive edge if permitting delays persist.

"As a country, we must act with a sense of urgency if we want to execute growth projects." Alejandro Tapia, head of BHP's Escondida mine, said at the ongoing CRU World Copper conference in Santiago.

"Competition will be fierce, and Chile cannot lose this opportunity or its leadership position," he noted, according to Bloomberg.

Chile's copper sector, which provides a quarter of the world's supply, has long struggled with slow permitting, exacerbated by increasing environmental and ...

https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44709462/miners-urge-chile-to-cut-bureaucracy-before-country-loses-copper-leadership