Mining companies in Chile seek input into the country's new constitution

Mining companies operating in Chile will seek to enter the constitutional debate set to start soon in the world's top copper-producing nation as the firms try to preserve growth of the sector, an industry leader told local media on Saturday.

A broad political agreement generated after the violent social protests that shook Chile in 2019 resulted in an assembly of 155 members that will have to draft a new constitution for the country.

Joaquin Villarino, head of the Mining Council - which unites large firms such as Anglo American, Antofagasta, Barrick and BHP - told local newspaper El Mercurio that it had written a document outlining how the companies would like to operate under the new constitution.