SAFETY IN THE CHILEAN MINING INDUSTRY AFTER THE RESCUE OF THE 33 MINERS

• Jurisdiction: Derecho Internacional

International Mining and Oil & Gas Law, Development, and Investment
(Apr 2013)
CHAPTER 19A
SAFETY IN THE CHILEAN MINING INDUSTRY AFTER THE RESCUE OF THE 33 MINERS
Francisco Orrego
Undersecretary, Ministry of Mining
Santiago
Max Larraine
Head, Legal Department
Geology and Mining National Survey of Chile
Santiago

MAX LARRAINE is the Head of the Legal Department at the Geology and Mining National Survey of Chile ("SERNAGEOMIN"). His practice focuses on natural resources, mining and environment. In this position, he is leading important legal modifications of mining industry regulations (New Mine Closure Act, Mine Safety New Act, etc.). Mr. Larraín studied law at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and was admitted to the Bar in 2002. In 2010 he obtained a Master in Laws Degree (L.L.M.) in Environmental Law and Policy from the Duke University, School of Law, Durham, North Carolina, USA. He also obtained a diploma in Public Law in 2006 and a Diploma in Environmental Law and Sustainable Development at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Prior to his position at Sernageomin, he worked as senior Associate at Baker & Mckenzie, Santiago, focused on corporate, public, mining and environmental law matters. He ran as a Candidate for the House of Representatives, to represent Region of Aysen; one of the youngest candidates for this position, he obtained 11% of the votes (2005).

SAFETY IN THE CHILEAN MINING INDUSTRY AFTER THE RESCUE OF THE 33 MINERS

International Mining and Oil & Gas

Law, Development, and Investment

Cartagena de Indias, Colombia

April 24th, 2013

Francisco Orrego

Viceminister of Mining

I. Management prior to the Rescue of the 33 Miners

II. 33 miners rescue, a brief overview

III. Policies after the rescue

IV. Final Remarks

[Page 19A-2]

SAFETY IN CHILEAN MINING BEFORE RESCUE

Fatalities in Mining

Management in Mining Safety by Sernageomin

• Sernageomin is the public body which inspects mine sites in Chile in terms of safety and fulfillment of operation plans.

• Its main task, about safety, is the oversight carried out by inspectors.

[Page 19A-3]

• Significant growth of mining activity because of increase in copper price

• Increase In fatalities

• Informality in small scale mining

• Insufficient resources for supervision / control

• Originally this old mine extracted Silver, but later It also began extracting Copper and Gold.

• The mine was shut down between March 2007...