Invierno mine (Mina Invierno: lit. Winter Mine) is a coal mine in Riesco Island, Chile, that was active from 2013 to 2020.[1][2] The mine exported coal extracted from Loreto Formation[3] to northern Chile and to other countries.[4] The enterprise in charge of the project declared initially the works would occupy an area of 1500 ha representing 0.3% of the area of Riesco Island.[5] Reportedly, it was initially projected to be the first of five coal mines in Riesco Island to be established by Von Appen and Angelini.[6] The development of the mine included both the clearing of Magellanic subpolar forests and the reforestation of areas burned down during the Chilean settlement of Magallanes more than 100 years ago.[6][3]
In 2016 it was recognized by Mining.com as the southernmost mine on the planet.[7] By area, Invierno is the largest mine to have ever existed in Chile.[6]
In 2019 the Third Environmental Court of Valdivia withdrew permission to mine by blasting in Invierno mine, effectively causing the mine to initiate a mine closure process that ended all mining in 2020.[3][2][8] The closing of the mine and the COVID-19 pandemic in Chile are credited for the economic downturn Magallanes Region experienced in the early 2020s.[8]
Before closure, the mine had about 1,000 employees.[3]
- ^ Pozo B., Andrés (2014-08-11). "El silencioso primer año de Mina Invierno". Diario Financiero (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-03-15.
- ^ a b González Encina, Verónica (2022-03-08). "Copec concreta la venta de su participación en Mina Invierno". Reporte Minero (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-06-08.
- ^ a b c d "Los errores y contradicciones del caso Mina Invierno". Guía minera de Chile (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-04-06.
- ^ Llegaron cargadores de barcos para puerto de Mina Invierno Archived 2012-08-14 at the Wayback Machine. La Prensa Austral. August 12, 2012.
- ^ Conozca el polémico proyecto minero en Isla Riesco. Cooperativa. September 29, 2011.
- ^ a b c "Momento decisivo para Isla Riesco: el último paso en la batalla legal contra Mina Invierno". Ladera Sur (in Spanish). 2021-05-19. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
- ^ "The world's southernmost mines | MINING.com". MINING.com. Retrieved 2016-01-20.
- ^ a b El Espectador (2021-04-18). "A un año del cierre de Mina Invierno". El Pingüino (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-06-08.