The Corporation took an important step on the path towards sustainable mining, ensuring a 100% renewable energy matrix by 2030, in line with Codelco's public commitments in this area.

“This agreement allows Codelco to move forward towards its goal of being a pillar of sustainable development in Chile and the world; ensuring an energy supply from renewable sources is aligned with our aspiration to be leaders in environmental protection,” said CEO Rubén Alvarado.

In the case of El Teniente, the mining company in the O'Higgins region, currently "around 25% of our energy comes from renewable energy sources with hydropower plants provided by Pacific Hydro," explains the Division's energy manager, Bastián Sharp.

In addition, thanks to a successful renegotiation of one of the supply contracts, which represents approximately 30% of El Teniente's energy generation and which was based on coal, it will switch to a renewable matrix in 2026.

Thus, the remaining 45%, which belongs to another contract, is under review to definitively migrate to clean energy by 2030.

“We are developing energy transition plans, analyzing photovoltaic generation projects in different corporate buildings and in the industrial area on a large scale,” Sharp adds.

The Sustainability and External Affairs Manager, Germán Sandoval, pointed out that “the Corporation has set itself demanding challenges and guidelines to move towards sustainable copper, with the commitment to significantly reduce the carbon footprint. As the El Teniente Division, we have development commitments associated with sustainability indicators, which are not only in line with market demands and global trends, but, above all, with our communities.”

 Transition of contracts

Codelco's transformation towards a 100% renewable energy matrix began in 2007 with the modification of the electricity purchase agreement between the Corporation and Engie's subsidiary, Central Termoeléctrica Andina (CTA), which currently supplies energy to División Gabriela Mistral and part of Chuquicamata. The agreement also means that Codelco will be able to replace CTA's coal-based supply with a renewable supply starting January 1, 2026.

The plan is in addition to the public tender held in 2023, which ended at the beginning of this year - in which more than 50 national and international companies participated and which was awarded to Colbún, Atlas and Innergex - which guaranteed a matrix with 85% renewable electricity by 2026.

These efforts are aligned with Codelco's purpose of being a pillar of sustainable development in Chile and the world, with plans and initiatives that are constantly monitored and measured by the Sustainability Committee.

To this end, the organization has publicly signed sustainability commitments for 2030 on six axes: a smaller carbon footprint, with a 70% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions; a smaller water footprint, with a 60% reduction in unit consumption of continental water; a circular economy, with the recycling of 65% of industrial waste; 100% of reservoirs (dams) with world-class sustainability and safety measures; development of the territory with social value; and a 25% reduction in PM 10 emissions.