Opposition lawmakers, mayors and union leaders from Codelco's Salvador Division went to La Moneda to deliver a letter to President José Antonio Kast, according to radio.uchile.cl. They are asking him to clarify whether the Potrerillos smelter in the Atacama Region will continue operating.
The delegation included the mayors of Diego de Almagro, Mario Araya, and Chañaral, Alex Ahumada. Council members and workers' representatives also attended. The source does not specify the exact date of the visit or whether the government responded.
Carlos Gallardo heads the division's Benito Tapia Tapia Union No. 6. According to him, the impact would extend beyond the plant. "Its closure would affect the employment of more than 4 thousand people in the province," he said.
Gallardo added that the smelter supports productivity at other Codelco operations, such as the Ventanas Division. He called for protecting continued employment in Diego de Almagro, Chañaral and the rest of the province.
Deputy Juan Santana (PS) provided other figures. According to the lawmaker, 450 Codelco workers are linked to the smelter. They are joined by more than 2,500 contractors working in connection with its operations.
Santana explained that the letter seeks to have the executive branch state its position. He warned that Potrerillos supplies anodes (the copper plates that are subsequently refined) to other refineries, such as Ventanas. A closure would therefore jeopardize a key production chain for Atacama, he said.
Mayor Araya added another complaint: the distribution of mining royalties. "We are mining municipalities that contribute a significant share of the country's wealth," he said. In his view, these funds do not reach local areas in sufficient amounts.
Socialist Senator Daniella Cicardini pointed to a lack of investment and clear answers from the company. According to her, the prolonged shutdown and signs of a permanent suspension require the executive branch to intervene.
"The question is not only how much it costs to keep the smelter running, but how much losing Potrerillos would cost Chile and the Atacama Region," the senator said.
Cicardini noted that Atacama has an unemployment rate of 9.5%. With unemployment at that level, the opposition and municipalities are now waiting for La Moneda to respond to the letter and decide the plant's future.
