Chile's constituent assembly, charged with drafting the country's new constitution, on Saturday approved an early proposal that opens the door to nationalizing some of the world's largest copper and lithium mines.
Prijedlog Odbora za zaštitu okoliša, koji se sastao tijekom vikenda prvi put od osnivanja kao krajnjeg roka za zatvaranje prijedloga, dobio je 13 glasova za, tri protiv i tri suzdržana.
The proposal, which focuses on large-scale mining of copper, lithium and gold, has yet to be approved by two-thirds of the general assembly to become part of Chile's new charter, which will be put to a national referendum later this year.
S obzirom da čileanska država već posjeduje osnovna prava na rudarstvo, analitičari su taj potez opisali kao izravan napad na privatne interese i dali vladi godinu dana da nacionalizira tvrtku.
The companies involved in metallic and non-metallic minerals and hydrocarbons may not be compensated for the loss of mining rights. The proposal says the auditor general would determine this based on the company's book value, with a maximum payment period of 30 years.
U tekstu je također propisano da se poslovi i projekti započeti prije 1993. godine moraju podnijeti na ocjenu okoliša u roku od tri godine. Koncesije u isključenim područjima, kao što su u blizini ledenjaka i na autohtonom zemljištu, bit će povučene.
Vijeće za okoliš - zajedno s mladim aktivistima - glasalo je o prvom nacrtu prijedloga početkom veljače, što je izazvalo trenutnu reakciju, čak i od samih čileanskih vlasti.
Diego Hernandez, head of the National Mining Association, which represents companies in the industry, describes the idea as "barbaric" and "clearly wrong legally".
Rudarski veteran{0}}lijevog centra rekao je da je mjera usmjerena na tvrtke i resurse, što bi imalo velike ekonomske i pravne implikacije za Čile.
"Given the globalization of the world, I would expect the affected companies to resort to treaties to defend their legitimate interests," Mr. Hernandez said.
Sergio Bitar, a socialist politician who was mining minister in 1973 under the deposed leftist government of Salvador Allende, called the initiative a "mad return to the past."
Čile je 1967. godine donio zakon koji zahtijeva da tvrtke budu u vlasništvu građana u najmanje 51 posto. Četiri godine kasnije država je otkupila preostalih 49 posto, a tvrtka je u potpunosti nacionalizirana.
"I remember all the problems we had trying to sell copper outside of the commercial circle, and I remember when Congress voted not to pay the company any compensation for loss of assets and profits, and that's what I'm listening to right now," Bitar said in an interview with MercoPress.
"There is one thing that is dream, wishful thinking," the veteran politician said. "The other is reality, which shows how dependent Chile is on global powers (...). For example, China now buys a third of Chile's copper, so what is our strategy for nationalised mining companies? Reduced exports?" "He pointed out.
Veće naknade
Chile, the world's biggest copper producer and host to two of its biggest lithium miners, is in the process of amending its constitution to replace the market-centred one, which dates back to the military dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet.
The country produced 5.6 million tons of copper in 2021, about 25 percent of the world's total, and has nearly 70 billion in potential mining projects this decade, most of which will never materialize if the country nationalizes its resources.
Politicians in the world's largest copper producer are also fine-tuning a new mining royalty bill that would raise tariffs on companies based on gross sales and profitability.
In its latest report, FTI said: "We estimate that if the new tax is approved, Chilean copper miners could see their tax rate rise to 80 per cent and profit margins fall by more than 50 per cent at current copper prices."
Analysts believe that while outright nationalisation, as proposed, is unlikely, the chances of a radical new royalty regime are far greater. It could "push the Chilean tax system into pseudo expropriation territory, especially as prices are likely to remain above 4 a pound, which is a 75 per cent tax rate."
Zaključili su da bi Čile mogao postati zemlja s najvećim poreznim opterećenjem na rudarstvo bakra, što bi prisililo tvrtke da preispitaju{0}}održivost svojih sadašnjih i budućih ulaganja.
