Codelco Andina Faces Scrutiny Following Mine Tailings Spill Threatening Aconcagua River

Original article: «Codelco Andina tiene que responder»: Pedirán intervención del CDE tras derrame de relaves que podría llegar al Río Aconcagua

The Environmental Superintendency (SMA) has launched a regulatory investigation into Codelco Chile – Andina Division, following a significant spill of mining tailings caused by a blockage in the transport system for this material.

This event has raised deep concerns within the community, particularly regarding the potential contamination of the Blanco River, which feeds into the Aconcagua River—essential for supplying drinking water in the Valparaíso Region.

Upon confirmation of the incident, Senator Karol Cariola (PC), chair of the Senate Water Resources Commission, announced she would send a series of official requests to various competent authorities—including the General Water Directorate, Sernageomin, and the Ministries of Environment and Health. She also called for a request to the State Defense Council (CDE) to initiate legal actions in the Environmental Court.

«We are concerned about this situation not only due to immediate impacts on the supply of rural and urban drinking water but also due to potential environmental and health consequences if contamination resulting from these spills is confirmed,» declared the legislator.

«Codelco Andina must respond,» added Cariola, informing that a session of the Water Resources Commission would be convened next week to gather details and learn about the measures taken in response to the emergency and the status of ongoing investigations.

«We are used to self-reporting of information regarding contamination. This is not acceptable. There needs to be an independent report that guarantees the water is free from contamination and that the surrounding environment has not been harmed,» the parliamentarian stated.

In a similar vein, her Senate colleague Diego Ibáñez (FA) condemned the incident as «an irresponsibility towards the lives of people in the Valparaíso region, and there must be accountability. Today, the government is reducing budgets for all oversight bodies at the expense of people’s health.»

«We will officially notify the Environmental Superintendency, the presidential delegation, and the PDI because this is unacceptable,» added the legislator.

SMA Requests Information from Codelco

Following the on-site inspection, the Environmental Superintendency required a series of technical details from Codelco’s Andina Division, setting deadlines of 2 and 5 business days for their submission.

Initially, within 2 business days, Codelco Andina must provide «a detailed chronology of the incident, UTM coordinates, KMZ maps of the affected works, quantification of the volume of spilled and contained tailings, areas of soil or water impacted, physical-chemical characterization of the material, as well as water quality monitoring and real-time parameters (pH and conductivity) in the Blanco River.»

Additionally, they must «verify control measures, cleaning actions, and activation of the Contingency Plan.»

Subsequently, within 5 business days, the company «must submit a Consolidated Technical Report on the causes of the failure, a final assessment of impacts on environmental components (water, soil, flora, fauna, or human health), final disposal of the removed material, and a plan of actions to prevent similar incidents.»

The SMA reminded that failure to comply with these information requests is classified as a serious infringement under the Organic Law of the Environmental Superintendency (LOSMA), subject to sanctions.

We will continue to provide updates.