Mining Councils in Chile, Argentina and Colombia Advance New Regulations

In Chile, the Mining Council met with Subsecretary of Mining Álvaro González to discuss regulatory, environmental and safety matters, including progress on a mining protection bill, the environmental management of the "chinchilla" project, municipal contributions and public‑security challenges.

In Argentina's Mendoza province, the government opened a review of a contested appointment to the provincial Mining Council. The appointment of Andrea Florencia Calderón, a Master of Works, was challenged for not meeting the legal requirements for a mining engineer or geologist, prompting the Mining Directorate to request proof of qualifications and warning of possible removal, with substitute Claudio Ángel Dagne named.

In Colombia, the national government issued Decree 0742 of 2026, establishing the first comprehensive framework for mine closure. The decree mandates integrated closure plans covering environmental, labor, social and financial measures, defines five types of closure, and requires ongoing updates and post‑closure land‑use plans for restoration or other productive activities. Minister Edwin Palma said the decree settles a historic debt.