Santiago, Chile – May 16, 2025. For three intense days, from May 13 to 15, the Sheraton Santiago Hotel was the epicenter of one of the most relevant meetings of the international calendar on responsible mining: the 9º International Congress of Environment and Social Responsibility in Mining, known globally as Sustainable Mining 2025. The event, organized by Gecamin and co-organized by SMI-ICE-Chile, the University of Antofagasta and Northwestern University of the United States, brought together more than 400 professionals and decision makers from 16 countries.
This forum, which is already a reference in the mining sustainability agenda at the global level, focused on articulating concrete solutions to the great challenges facing the industry: decarbonization, the relationship with communities, adaptation to climate change, efficient use of water and biodiversity. He did so not only with technical exposures, but also through high-level conversations, real case studies and proposals to strengthen governance in territories where mining coexists with local communities and complex environmental impacts.
The inauguration of the congress was marked by words that reflect an ongoing cultural transformation: “This Congress focuses on the most urgent environmental and social issues for our industry, allowing us to address challenges such as efficient water management, strengthening relations with communities and biodiversity conservation,” said Lorena Ramírez, Head of Corporate Affairs and Communications of Pampa Norte | BHP (Chile), president of the organizing committee.
Throughout the event, more than 120 technical presentations were developed, highlighting presentations that addressed from innovations in traceability and automation of mining processes with artificial intelligence, to pioneering experiences in community governance and strategies to mitigate the impacts of climate change in high Andean areas. Each of these instances confirmed that mining is evolving from an extractive model to a regenerative, circular and collaborative-focused paradigm.
One of the most applauded points of the event was the participation of Constanza Vitta, corporate director of Human Rights and Indigenous Peoples of CODELCO, who presented the case study “Codelco’s strategy in human rights”, exposing how the Chilean state company has integrated the Guiding Principles of the United Nations in its operations, with emphasis on prior consultation, due diligence and repair mechanisms. The presentation was described as a milestone in the incorporation of human rights in the extractive sector of Latin America.
At the international level, he also highlighted the participation of Pablo Carvallo, General Manager of Lomas Bayas, Glencore Chile, who emphasized that “the mining of the future cannot exist without a social license or without environmental accountability.” In the same vein, Rodrigo Caballero, interim president of Pampa Norte, shared how BHP has managed to reduce its use of continental water by 40% thanks to new desalination technologies and the integration of local communities in decision-making.
Eramine Sudamérica, a company that operates in the Centenario-Ratones salt flat in Argentina, was represented by Constanza Cintoni, its director of sustainability, who put on the table the learning acquired in the management of sociocultural and environmental impacts in sensitive contexts of the Andean region. The company, a subsidiary of Eramet (France), explained its lithium mining model with criteria for rational use of water and adaptive environmental closure plans.
Along with the presentations, Sustainable Mining 2025 had high-level networking spaces, exhibitions of technology companies and an innovation fair applied to mining. Among the most recurring topics: mining 4.0, automation with sustainability criteria, the application of blockchain for the traceability of minerals, and the circular economy as a new axis of competitiveness.
Chile reaffirmed its status as a strategic hub for the supply of critical minerals worldwide. With more than 30% of the planet’s lithium and 28% of copper, and with new reserves of cobalt and rare earths in exploration, the country is redefining its role not only as an exporter, but as a responsible actor in the global supply chain for clean technologies.
A distinctive aspect of the congress was the offer of pre-congress technical courses, taught in digital mode and available for three months for attendees. The topics addressed included the analysis of the life cycle in mining, the restoration of high Andean ecosystems and the circularity of water resources in arid areas. This initiative was celebrated for allowing an extension of the formative impact beyond the face-to-face event.
From the perspective of sustainable development, Sustainable Mining 2025 marked a turning point. The exhibitions made it clear that it is no longer just about “doing less damage”, but about generating positive value: regenerating ecosystems, empowering communities, ensuring traceability and transparency in the mining chain, and transforming the relationship between the State, business and civil society.
In the words of Rodrigo Riquelme, a researcher in renewable energies at the University of Chile: “This congress was not only a technical forum. It was a space for cultural encounter, reconciliation between industry and territory, and incubation of ideas for mining that contributes to global climate justice.”
The discussion panels were especially valued for their practical approach. Issues such as new regulatory frameworks, green financing opportunities, just transition funds and public-private partnership models were analyzed in depth. The participation of the Ministry of Mining of Chile and representatives of the Chilean Copper Commission (Cochilco) contributed to strengthening the strategic character of the event.
In summary, the closure of Sustainable Mining 2025 confirms an irreversible trend: mining can no longer operate with its back to society or the environment. The transformation is underway, and Chile is not only witnessing that change, but also a protagonist.
To learn more about the results of the event, exclusive interviews and access to presentation materials, visit: www.gecamin.com/sustainablemining
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