Mining Roots in the Tarapacá Region

Collahuasi is located in Tarapacá, a region with a long mining history dating back to the second half of the 19th century, when the commercial exploitation of high-grade copper-silver veins began. This production was interrupted in 1930 due to the global economic crisis.

Activities in the current Collahuasi area resumed in 1978, following the identification of key components of the Rosario deposit. Thirteen years later, satellite images, aerial photographs, ground surveys, and a series of drillings led to the discovery of the Ujina deposit. Feasibility and environmental impact studies for its exploitation were approved in 1995. The following year, the development and construction phase of the future Compañía Minera Doña Inés de Collahuasi began.

1880

Beginning of the exploitation of high-grade copper and silver vein systems.

1890

Between 1890 and 1900, “Collahuasi Syndicate Society.”

1899

The Collahuasi Mining Company is organized.

1995

The development of the Collahuasi project is approved.

1999

Official inauguration of the Doña Inés de Collahuasi Mining Company.

2005

Construction of the Punta Patache molybdenum plant.

2010

Creation of Casa Collahuasi, an art hall open to the community of Iquique.

2016

The company achieves the best results in its history despite the pandemic.

2018

The largest renewable energy supply contract in the country begins.

2021 - 2040

The C20+ project begins, aiming to construct a desalination plant and a pipeline that will carry the desalinated water to the Cordillera operation, which will gradually reduce the company’s consumption of continental water.