# Mining regulatory and reform efforts in Chile > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/mining-regulatory-and-reform-efforts-in-chile > Updated: 2026-09-21T15:00:05.000Z. Sources: 6. Developments: 2. In Chile, the Senate's Mining and Energy Commission approved a reform bill introduced by President José Antonio Kast to simplify the mining patent regime. The proposal aims to reduce bureaucratic burdens for small-scale and artisanal miners by replacing a progressive payment scale with two fixed rates: 0.1 UTM per hectare for active miners and 0.4 UTM for those without proven activity. The bill also introduces exploration as a basis for patent reductions. While the reform progresses, the National Mining Society (Sonami) has called for a suspension of auctions for unpaid mining patents to avoid legal contradictions. Some critics of the current bill argue it lacks a dedicated institutional framework, suggesting that small-scale mining should instead be integrated into the 2026-2030 Government Mining Plan through a Framework Law addressing financing, modernization, and environmental compliance. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-21: Mining sectors in Chile and Colombia seek regulatory and environmental clarity Small-scale mining sectors in Chile and Colombia are seeking regulatory clarity and the completion of long-delayed environmental and legal frameworks to protect formal mining activities. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mining-sectors-in-chile-and-colombia-seek-regulatory-and-environmental-clarity ### 2026-09-07: Chilean Senate Commission approves mining patent reform bill Chile's Senate Commission has approved a bill to simplify mining patents, aiming to support small-scale miners by stabilizing costs and reducing bureaucracy. Industry groups seek to pause property auctions. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/chilean-senate-commission-approves-mining-patent-reform-bill --- Cite as: Mining regulatory and reform efforts in Chile. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/mining-regulatory-and-reform-efforts-in-chile