Los Bronces

Assessment scope

The Los Bronces mining complex is located in Chile’s Santiago Metropolitan Region. The site is owned 50.1% by Anglo American, 29.5% by a Codelco-Mitsui joint venture, and 20.4% by Mitsubishi Corporation. Mining operations began in 1867 and the site has operated under the current ownership structure since 2002. The operation produces copper concentrate and molybdenum concentrate through flotation, and also produces copper cathodes via heap leaching and solvent extraction-electrowinning (SX-EW). The site holds environmental permits that allow operations until 2036. The mine employs approximately 4,600 people and spans approximately 16,595 hectares within the site boundary.

The scope of the assessment will include the full range of operations and facilities including:

• open pit mine operations;
• crushing, grinding, and flotation circuits;
• heap leaching and SX-EW facilities;
• tailings storage facilities including tailings dams;
• other waste storage and mine rock storage areas;
• ore and concentrate storage and transport infrastructure (including pipelines);
• maintenance workshops and fuel storage;
• water supply, treatment, and discharge facilities;
• worker housing and associated facilities;
• emergency response, health, safety and safety infrastructure; and
• on-site and remote operations control centers.

Of the 26 chapters in the IRMA Standard for Responsible Mining, the operator proposes that all chapters apply except for the following chapters:

• 2.2 Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC),
• 2.4 Resettlement,
• 3.4 Mining in conflict affected or high risk areas,
• 4.7 Cyanide Management, and
• 4.8 Mercury Management.

Çhapter relevancy will be determined during the audit.