El Salvador, September 10, 2026 – Codelco achieved a significant sustainability milestone with the completion of the closure of the former Solar Drying and Filter Plant in Llanta. This facility played a strategic role in the Salvador Division's production process for over 40 years, and the surrounding area has now been restored to its natural environment. The project represents the first closure plan of its kind undertaken by the Corporation, setting a precedent for the recovery of facilities that have reached the end of their useful life.

For decades, this operation was located in Llanta to facilitate the transport of the concentrate to the Potrerillos Smelter. The pulp traveled approximately 24 kilometers from the Concentrating Plant, through a pipeline, to reach these facilities for the filtration process.

Following the start of operations of the new Filter Plant in 2017, the process of closing the old facility, built in the 1950s and located on an area of approximately 210,000 square meters, began.

The project included industrial demolition, civil, mechanical, and electrical works, environmental management, and earthmoving. In addition, foundations, slabs, pipes, waste, and scrap metal were removed, totaling more than 10,000 tons of structures and materials.

“We have achieved a major milestone by completing the first mine closure in our Corporation. Today we are building Codelco’s future with sustainability, recovering spaces that are no longer part of our operation,” said Patricio Viveros, General Manager of the Salvador Division.

David Agüero, Project Director of the Salvador Division, stated, “This is a major step forward in our commitment to sustainability. As a division, we are proud to complete the first project of this kind within the Corporation.”

Diego Díaz, expert PMO engineer from the Project Management Department, added that “the closure was carried out through a multidisciplinary effort that yielded excellent results. All material removal was performed under an authorized waste and scrap metal disposal procedure.”

Codelco