Chile's constitutional convention approves 2 mining articles

Chile’s constitutional convention voted Saturday to keep state ownership of minerals in the draft of the new constitution.

Articles 22 and 23 also establish that the State will remain in charge of overseeing mining policy, encompassing the environment, social protection, innovation, technology, added value, and protecting small-scale and artisanal miners.

Exploration and exploitation will be regulated considering that resources are finite and non-renewable.  

Mining concessions and the imposition of additional mining fees, which motivated protests on Friday, are being reviewed by the convention’s environment commission and will be voted on again on May 14.

A plebiscite on the new constitution is scheduled for September 4. According to the latest poll by Cadem, 48% of respondents would vote to reject the text versus 35% saying they would approve it.