Chile: Codelco, the largest copper company in the world, faces Gabriel Boric and goes on strike

At least 42 million dollars a day Codelco, Chile’s state-owned copper miner, which produces 10% of the ore worldwide, will stop producing. All trade unions of their different tasks, across the country, decided to stop their activitiessince the early hours of this Wednesday, in rejection of President Gabriel Boric’s announcement to close – within 5 years – the Windows Foundrylocated in the Valparaiso region.

On Friday, the Chilean government official announced that the company’s board had voted on the matter dismantling foundryaccused of provoking 64% of the sulfur oxide in the areawhich generated several environmental alarms, including child poisoning from the elementary school in the municipality of Quintero, located a few kilometers from the factory.

The decision it divided the local community and Chilean society. On the one hand, the workers claim a “lack of dialogue” on the part of the government and the economic impact on the city, due to the possible unemployment that the measure would produce.

Plus, they charge for it Chile would give up melting its own copper, outsourcing it abroad. For the unions “the solution is to invest” what is necessary so that the foundry does not emit more polluting gases.

Environmental organizations and families affected by pollution they applauded Boric’s “courage” and his government, in a decision that resolves an endemic problem in the area, more than 50 years ago, a period in which they established 16 plants in a coastal strip not exceeding ten kilometers.

The sector, called Quintero – Puchincaví, was named a “sacrifice zone”.

When Boric turned to the country to communicate his decision, he stressed that his government does not want the existence of multiple sacrifice zones, at the same time announcing measures to support the job stability of the affected workers.

What did Boric say?

Boric stated in that speech that the closure “will be carried out through a gradual and responsible processwith the population and the workers “.

And he added that “this decision – which to be effective requires the participation of the National Congress, with whose good will we hope to count – was taken into consideration by the recurrent cases of poisoning that there has been in the operational area of ​​the foundry, the continuous temporary closures of schools, sick boys and girls, and environmental saturation “.

“Since we took over the government, we have put people, their wishes and their problems at the center of our concerns,” continued Boric.

“Each of the actions we are carrying out, we carry out looking at the well-being of all citizens, and above all of women, men, boys and girls who live more directly the consequences of an economic and social model that has been exclusive, unequal, And it expresses itself in various ways. One of these is the persistence of sacrifice zones, ”she added.

The complex decision of the president The Chilean government comes at a time when the disapproval of its mandate is greater than the approval level: 40% approve and 54% disapprove. For the same reason, the economic instability generated by the paralysis of the economy is viewed with suspicion by the opposition.

However, from the official block their “courage” was celebrated. For its supporters, putting the health and protection of the ecosystem on the possible economic implications and the policies that his decision may have involved an act of “courage”.

Unemployment: the workers’ response

Promises not to abandon workers and to guarantee their work were not enough. The foundry operators, through their unions, insist that there is a solution invest in technology so that the plant stops polluting and does not dismantle it.

However, there are conflicting opinions among experts on the matter how much that operation would cost. The unions speak of about 65 million dollars, but from the academy they estimate that the reconversion of the foundry could cost up to 1.4 billion US currency.

The miners accuse, through a statement from the Copper Workers Front, that the government has not discussed the decision with the various parties. This is because, although there have been meetings with the board of directors, the decision was abruptly voted and communicated, surprising even the press, since no information previously transcended.

In addition, they confront the Chilean president the alleged betrayal the government has run into since then they called to vote for him in the place of José Antonio Kast.

With everything, from midnight the main mines of the country, such as Chuquicamata and El Teniente, in addition to the aforementioned foundry, blocked their access. In 2021, the company’s copper surplus nearly meant $ 3.5 billion for the nation’s budgettherefore the situation was defined as “delicate”.

At the close of this note, the dollar showed its highest historical value in Chile, close to 900 pesos.

Santiago, Chile, special for Clarin

ap