Mining giant Antofagasta 'concerned' by rising political polarisation in Chile
Chile's Antofagasta, one of the world's largest copper producers, said on Saturday it was "concerned" by rising political uncertainty in the Andean country, which is set for a polarised presidential election this weekend.
In an interview published on Saturday by the newspaper La Tercera, the firm's executive president Iván Arriagada cited election uncertainty and took aim at "violence" as a source of pressure. The country has grappled with regular protests in recent years and is now redrafting its Constitution.
"What we have seen in the last year and a half is an increase in the levels of uncertainty due to political discussion and a significant degree of polarization. These are factors that we undoubtedly look at with concern," he said.
Chile is the world's largest copper producer.
Polls show that the favourites in the Sunday vote are ultra-conservative lawyer José Antonio Kast and left-wing congressman and former student leader Gabriel Boric, who are widely expected will face off in a second-round ballot in December.
The elections take place two years after an outbreak of demonstrations against inequality that brought many people to the streets. Many of the protests ended in clashes with police.
Mining companies operating in Chile have raised concerns about rising uncertainty and underlined the importance of maintaining the rules of the game that have allowed the rapid development of the sector in the country.
Arriagada did say that the copper market has good long-term fundamentals, with sustained demand, which should help keep prices at the current high levels - above $4 per pound - for the next 12 to 18 months, albeit with greater volatility.
Article Enquiry
Email Article
Save Article
Feedback
To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here
Research Reports
Projects
Latest Multimedia
Latest News
Showroom
SafeQuip is a leading distributor and manufacturer of fire safety solutions, offering a comprehensive range of products designed to meet all...
VISIT SHOWROOM
Established in 1933, EKATO is the world leader in agitation technology, supplying agitators for processes and applications such as chemicals and...
VISIT SHOWROOM
Announcements
What's On
Subscribe to improve your user experience...
Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):
Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):
All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors
including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.
Already a subscriber?
Forgotten your password?
Receive weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine (print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
➕
Recieve daily email newsletters
➕
Access to full search results
➕
Access archive of magazine back copies
➕
Access to Projects in Progress
➕
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA
R4500 (equivalent of R375 a month)
SUBSCRIBEAll benefits from Option 1
➕
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports on various industrial and mining sectors, in PDF format, including on:
Electricity
➕
Water
➕
Energy Transition
➕
Hydrogen
➕
Roads, Rail and Ports
➕
Coal
➕
Gold
➕
Platinum
➕
Battery Metals
➕
etc.
Receive all benefits from Option 1 or Option 2 delivered to numerous people at your company
➕
Multiple User names and Passwords for simultaneous log-ins
➕
Intranet integration access to all in your organisation
