During the last few years, Codelco strengthened the oworking relationships with other foreign and Chilean companies, which has produced important associations such as Biosigma S.A., Geotermia del Norte S.A., Alliance Copper, the Outokumpu agreement, Pecobre and Quadrem.

BioSigma S.A

Closed society created in 2002 between Codelco and Nippon Mining and Metals Co. Ltd. This agreement fits within the biomining program outlined by Codelco in 2001, aimed at incorporating into mining the developments in genomics, proteomics and bioinformatics.

The agreement seeks to jointly set in motion a company devoted to the technological development in bio-mining.

Geotérmica del Norte S.A.

Codelco and the Empresa Nacional del Petróleo formed in 2000 the society Geotérmica del Norte S.A., aimed at researching, exploring and exploiting geothermal deposits located in the I, II, and III Regions of Chile.

The participation of both companies in the development of this new energy resource, makes possible to take advantage of the sinergy between them to survey geothermal sources of great importance. Chile is in a particularly advantageous position to develop these resources due to its geological characteristics and its geographic position in the so called Fire Circle of the Pacific.

Alliance Copper

This company was created in august 2000 by Codelco and Billiton to commercialize exclusively and at the international level the bioleaching of sulfide materials containing copper and molybdenum. This association became a reality after a collaboration agreement established in 1997, aimed at studying and developing the technology of bioleaching of concentrates by the use of bacteria.

During the first years the feasibility study of a prototype plant in Chuquicamata, with a capacity of 20,000 tons a year, was started. Construction of the plant was begun in 2002.

Outokumpu

In 2000, Codelco and Outokumpu signed a collaboration agreement having as goal the development of a conversion technology capable of complying with the harshest international environmental standards and of improving the competitivity of COdelco smelters.

The first project of this technological alliance is the development of a new flash furnace for Codelco Norte Division. This new flash furnace would start operating in 2004.

Pecobre

Minera Pecobre S.A. de C.V. is a mexican society of variable capital formed by the Mexican company Industrias Peñoles S.A. de C.V. and Codelco, with 51% and 49% participations, respectively.

The aim of the company is to survey for copper and subproducts in mining properties granted in the State of Sonora, Mexico. Also, through one or several mining companies, to exploit, process and dispose of the minerals located in such properties.

Industrias Peñoles is currently the first silver producer in the world. Through an investment of over US$ 3 million, this company achieved a strategic positioning in one of the most prospective copper regions of Mexico.

Quadrem. Marketplace Minero

Codelco and other important industry companies actively participated in the creation of the first "dot-com" company of the sector, aimed at operating a global electronic market for the exchange of mining goods and services.

The new company was established in october 2001 with the signing of the shareholders´agreement which put Quadrem.com in the market.

The fourteen founding companies represent more than 14% of the capitalization of the international mining and metals market. This virtual market will use multiple common catalogue of products and it will allow its participants, whatever their size and location, to buy or to sell within a broad set of buyers both at the local and world level. More information in Quadrem (http://www.quadrem.com/)