Chile's environmental regulator, the Superintendency of the Environment (SMA), has filed four charges against Anglo American's major Los Bronces copper mine for violations of environmental permits. The charges could result in a hefty fine of nearly 17 billion pesos (approximately $17.17 million) if proven right.

One of the charges, deemed "very serious" by the SMA, relates to the company's failure to address acid drainage at the Esteriles Donoso tailings deposit, a violation that dates back to a 2014 sanction. Despite previous orders, Anglo American has not implemented a permanent solution to this issue, prompting the severe charge.

The SMA also filed two "serious" charges. The first concerns the company's failure to design a system to mitigate acid waters collected downstream of the Esteriles deposit. The second charge relates to inadequate measures to control seepage in the Las Tortolas tailings dam.

In addition, the regulator filed a "minor" charge against Anglo American for failing to provide complete data on water and tailings to the agency.

Anglo American, a global mining giant, acknowledged the charges in a statement and said it is currently analyzing the accusations to determine its next course of action. The company emphasized that the Esteriles Donoso tailings deposit is not currently in use and that it recently submitted a request for an environmental permit to address the acid drainage issue. Regarding the Las Tortolas tailings dam, the company stated it is working to improve seepage control by optimizing the hydraulic barrier approved by the regulator.

The company now has 15 days to present a mitigation program to address the environmental violations and 22 days to contest the charges issued by the SMA.

Los Bronces, one of Chile's largest copper mines, produced 255,000 metric tons of copper last year and is a significant asset for Anglo American. This latest environmental scrutiny comes at a time when Anglo American has been a target of takeover attempts by its larger rival, BHP.

These charges against Los Bronces follow similar actions taken by the SMA earlier this month against Anglo American for violations at its El Soldado copper mine in the Valparaiso region. These incidents underscore the increasing pressure on mining companies to comply with stringent environmental regulations in Chile, a country heavily reliant on copper production.

The charges against Los Bronces have significant implications for Anglo American. The potential fines are substantial, and the reputational damage could further complicate the company's operations in Chile. Moreover, the charges highlight the ongoing challenges facing the mining industry in balancing economic growth with environmental sustainability.

The outcome of this legal process will have a significant impact on Anglo American's operations in Chile and could set a precedent for future environmental enforcement actions against mining companies in the country.