Codelco–Pucobre Tovaku copper mine: approvals, design and ESG notes for engineers
Reviewed by Joe Ashwell

First reported on MINING.com
30 Second Briefing
Codelco and Pucobre have secured an Environmental Qualification Resolution for the $870 million Tovaku open-pit copper project in Chile’s Antofagasta region, clearing the way for a 46,000 t/y cathode SX/EW operation over a 21-year mine life, moving on average 47.5 Mt/y of material. The mine plan relies on conventional drilling, blasting and truck haulage, supported by a 193 MW photovoltaic park with 336,600 panels over 340 ha and a 72.5 km seawater pipeline delivering up to 425 L/s to two reverse-osmosis plants. Construction is slated to start in H2 2027, last three years and peak at 984 workers, with steady-state operations requiring about 700.
Technical Brief
- Minera Puntilla JV structure allocates 60% ownership to Pucobre and 40% to Codelco.
- Open-pit footprint spans the María Elena and Tocopilla municipalities in Chile’s Antofagasta region.
- Mine plan targets low-grade copper ore, using conventional drill–blast–truck haulage without in-pit crushing cited.
- Processing route comprises crushing, acid curing, heap leaching, solvent extraction and electrowinning to produce cathodes.
- Material movement peaks at 68.2 Mt in year 18, implying late-life high strip ratios and haulage demand.
- Site solar park is rated at 193 MW over 340 ha, with 336,600 photovoltaic panels installed.
- Seawater supply uses a 72.5 km pumping system from Tocopilla Thermal Power Plant, up to 425 L/s capacity.
- Two reverse-osmosis plants will treat third-party seawater to separate industrial and potable water streams.
- RCA conditions explicitly address electrical infrastructure, mining activities, safety measures and voluntary environmental commitments.
Our Take
In our database, Codelco’s $34 billion investment pipeline sits against recent findings of $32 billion already spent with falling copper output, so the Tovaku project will be closely watched as a test of whether newer joint-venture builds with Pucobre can reverse that productivity narrative.
The 72.5 km seawater pumping system and 193 MW solar park at Tovaku align with a cluster of Chile copper projects in our sustainability-tagged coverage that are shifting to non-freshwater supply and dedicated renewables, which may help with permitting in water-stressed Antofagasta but adds long linear infrastructure to de-risk during design.
Given recent tailings and governance issues at Codelco highlighted in November 2026 coverage, the scale of material movement at Tovaku (up to 68.2 Mt/y) implies that early decisions on waste-rock and tailings strategies will be scrutinised by regulators and financiers as a signal of whether the company is tightening operational controls on new builds.
Prepared by collating external sources, AI-assisted tools, and Geomechanics.io’s proprietary mining database, then reviewed for technical accuracy & edited by our geotechnical team.
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