In a key milestone that reinforces its commitment to sustainable development, Codelco obtained the seal of quantification of emissions at the corporate level from the Huella Chile program of the Ministry of the Environment (MMA). Likewise, the Gabriela Mistral and El Teniente divisions were recognized for measuring the emissions linked to two of their products, using the carbon footprint calculator for mining suppliers developed jointly by Codelco, the ministry and Corporación Alta Ley.

Obtaining the Huella Chile seal, the official initiative of the MMA to promote responsible management of greenhouse gas emissions in organizations, is a substantial step forward for Codelco, facilitating the implementation and monitoring of its decarbonization strategy, strengthening transparency.

“At Codelco, we know the role we have and that we are called to be leaders in developing environmentally responsible mining, and therefore low in emissions. This is a great challenge that requires not only the coordination and collaboration of all the actors along the copper production chain, but also the commitment of each one of us to work together towards an efficient reduction of mining emissions, thus contributing to a Chile that produces low-emission copper,” said Gabriel Méndez, Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability, at the ceremony, which was attended by the Minister of the Environment, Maisa Rojas, and the Undersecretary of Mining, Suina Chahuán.

Carbon footprint of products

During the event, companies that participated in a pilot project developed by Codelco, the MMA and Alta Ley were also recognized, so that mining suppliers can measure the carbon footprint of their products. This initiative arises from the first emissions calculator designed specifically for mining suppliers, for public use and free of charge, which was launched in December 2022 after a joint work between Codelco and Alta Ley, with the support of the Association of Industrial Suppliers of Mining (APRIMIN) and the National Mining Society ( SONAMI).

Now, this tool, launched during the ceremony and known as the “MRV Program - GEI of products”, will be available in Huella Chile, as an easy, standardized, and traceable mechanism for measurements.

Among the companies that participated in the pilot project are those that supply explosives, grinding balls, lime, reagents, fuels, transportation, lubricants and tires for mining. Also included in this group are the Gabriela Mistral and El Teniente divisions, for their copper cathodes and sulfuric acid, respectively.

In the case of Gabriela Mistral's copper cathodes, the measurement was carried out by identifying the inputs used in the manufacturing process. It is worth noting that the copper cathodes from this work center have the responsible production seals of The Copper Mark.

“This is a tremendous recognition, as a result of work that has been carried out jointly. Receiving this award makes us proud and also gives us motivation and energy to continue moving forward in quantifying our carbon footprint, and thus take the actions and measures necessary to manage decarbonization,” said Claudia Cabrera, general manager of Gabriela Mistral.

El Teniente Division, for its part, quantified the carbon footprint of its sulfuric acid using data from the Caletones Smelter. The result of the calculation was 54 kilograms of CO2 per ton of acid, which represents a 56% reduction compared to other traditional methods. This is significant, since El Teniente produces a low-carbon-footprint byproduct that is used as a key input in the leaching process of other divisions.

Javier Ortiz, manager of Fundición de El Teniente, valued the opportunity. "Participating in these programs with the Ministry of the Environment is proof of the urgent need we have to advance in our social and environmental responsibility. We are a state company and collaborating, motivating the industry, also means an incentive to continue working," he said.