Dominga Mining Project gets green light

Chile’s Supreme Court dismissed the Government’s appeal against the Dominga mining project, confirming the validity of RCA 161/2021 and granting final approval after 12 years of legal disputes.

Chile’s Supreme Court has declared inadmissible the appeals filed by the Government —through the Environmental Assessment Service (SEA)—, the Committee of Ministers, and several environmental organizations against the Dominga mining and port project, located in La Higuera, Coquimbo Region.

With this ruling, the Court confirmed the validity of Environmental Qualification Resolution (RCA) No. 161/2021, clearing the judicial path and delivering a decisive endorsement to the initiative promoted by Andes Iron after more than 12 years of environmental and legal disputes.

Historic Supreme Court ruling

The Third Chamber of the Supreme Court, composed of ministers Adelita Ravanales, Jean Pierre Matus, and Diego Simpértigue, determined that the ruling of the First Environmental Court (1TA) of Antofagasta, issued in December 2024, does not constitute a final or interlocutory judgment that ends the case. Therefore, the appeals were not admissible.

“As a result, the environmental merits of the project will not be reopened. RCA No. 161/2021 remains fully in force,” the Judiciary stated in its official communication.

This decision effectively shuts the door to further environmental challenges through judicial means, marking a milestone in Chile’s environmental institutional framework.

Andes Iron’s reaction

For Andes Iron, the ruling is nothing short of “historic”, not only for the company but also for the country’s environmental governance system.

“This ruling confirms that Dominga was evaluated with scientific rigor and complies with current regulations. It is a signal of legal and institutional certainty that will enable a sustainable investment for La Higuera and the Coquimbo Region,” said Francisco Villalón, Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Manager at Andes Iron.

The company also highlighted that the project includes a robust plan for environmental mitigation, compensation, and monitoring, along with significant economic benefits for the region.

Economic impact and projections

The Dominga Project represents an estimated investment of US$2.5 billion, with the potential to create around 30,000 jobs during the construction phase. Once operational, it is expected to produce 12 million tons of high-grade iron concentrate (magnetite) and 150,000 tons of copper concentrate annually.

Currently, the company is moving forward with the required sectoral permits to begin construction.

Next steps

Although the ruling resolves the main judicial disputes, a pending procedural matter remains before the Court of Appeals of Antofagasta, regarding compliance with the First Environmental Court’s order to review the Committee of Ministers’ actions.

Nevertheless, Andes Iron emphasized that the Supreme Court’s resolution is the definitive milestone enabling the project’s execution after more than a decade of environmental, political, and legal battles.