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.
La motion de la commission de l'environnement, qui s'est réunie au cours du week-end pour la première fois depuis sa création comme date limite de clôture de la proposition, a reçu 13 voix pour, trois contre et trois abstentions.
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.
Étant donné que l'État chilien détient déjà des droits miniers de base, les analystes ont décrit cette décision comme une attaque directe contre des intérêts privés et ont donné au gouvernement un an pour nationaliser l'entreprise.
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.
Le texte stipule également que les opérations et projets commencés avant 1993 doivent être soumis à des évaluations environnementales dans un délai de trois ans. Les concessions dans les zones exclues, telles que près des glaciers et sur les terres indigènes, seront retirées.
Le Conseil de l'environnement - ainsi que de jeunes militants - ont voté sur une première ébauche de la motion début février, provoquant une réaction immédiate, même de la part des autorités chiliennes elles-mêmes.
Diego Hernandez, head of the National Mining Association, which represents companies in the industry, describes the idea as "barbaric" and "clearly wrong legally".
Le vétéran du centre-gauche du secteur minier a déclaré que la mesure ciblait les entreprises et les ressources, ce qui aurait des implications économiques et juridiques majeures pour le Chili.
"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."
Le Chili a adopté une loi en 1967 exigeant que les entreprises soient détenues à au moins 51 % par des citoyens. Quatre ans plus tard, l'État a acheté les 49 % restants et l'entreprise a été entièrement nationalisée.
"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.
Redevances plus élevées
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."
Ils ont conclu que le Chili pourrait devenir le pays avec la charge fiscale la plus élevée sur l'extraction du cuivre, obligeant les entreprises à ré-réexaminer la viabilité de leurs investissements actuels et futurs.
