Water Resources: Initiatives

Since copper mining requires large amounts of water, each mine is working to introduce technologies that maximize water efficiency in operational processes in order to reduce the intake of new water. At the Los Bronces Copper Mine, located in Chile's Metropolitan Region and jointly invested in by MC and Anglo American plc (AA), approximately 90% of the water used in production processes is recycled. Efforts are also underway to increase water recycling from tailings and to utilize treated wastewater procured from third parties. In addition, a contract has recently been signed to procure desalinated water beginning in 2026. This will help ensure a stable and long-term water supply for operations while also providing clean water to neighboring communities and contributing to water security for approximately 40,000 people.

MC affiliate Olam Group Limited (Olam) has endorsed the UN CEO Water Mandate, a United Nations Global Compact initiative that supports corporate efforts related to water, sanitation, and the SDGs. Olam is working to develop policies that help mitigate, understand, and manage water risks.

Examples of Olam’s efforts to reduce water consumption include the establishment in 2022 of water usage reduction targets for 2030 at its almond orchards in Australia and the U.S. Olam is also committed to improving water use efficiency across its orchards by monitoring soil and plant moisture and by remediating 75% of wet and saline areas. At its soluble coffee facility in Vietnam, Olam has installed a reverse osmosis system to recover and reuse rejected water during processing and continues to invest in measures and equipment to improve water efficiency. Regarding water quality management, Olam has maintained strict water quality controls at its palm plantations in Gabon since 2023, including regular inspections by third parties to prevent cross-contamination in nearby rivers.

With support from project partners, Olam introduced eco-pulpers on coffee farms in Mexico that eliminate the need for wastewater ponds traditionally required during coffee processing. These eco-pulpers enable up to an 80% reduction in water use compared to conventional methods while maintaining coffee quality.
In 2022, Olam partnered with the USDA Forest Service, the National Forest Foundation, and Unilever to enhance the resilience of forested watersheds, improve water conservation within the Pine Flats watershed in California, and reduce the risk of severe wildfires. The project is expected to replenish approximately 2.5 billion liters of water and reduce CO2 emissions by 80,000 tons per year.

To find out more about Olam’s activities to reduce water consumption, please visit their website:

The Escondida copper mine, one of MC’s major investments, is located in the desert region of northern Chile and is the largest copper-producing mine in the world. Water consumption at the mine site is reduced in the ore processing phase through water-saving measures and reuse initiatives. In addition, approximately US$4 billion has been invested to date in the construction of a desalination plant that has one of the largest processing and pumping capacities in the world. Since the end of 2019, the desalination plant has met all of the project’s water requirements, eliminating reliance on subterranean aquifers. As water shortages and drought have become more prominent issues in Chile in recent years, MC will continue advancing the business while respecting regional water resources and promoting environmental protection and coexistence with local communities.