The current Mining Minister talks about the challenges of the mining sector, the importance of Expomin for Chile and assesses the development of the mining sector in his period in the Ministry.
The assessment done by the Mining Minister Santiago Gonzalez, during the period he was in charge of the Ministry is very positive because "the sector led the economic recovery and restored the lost jobs very fast," he says.
At the same time, he notes that the development of the mining sector in this period has been very good for Chile "not only for overcoming an economic crisis, but also because the medium and small scale mining has had a very dynamic development benefiting hundreds of workers. These positive aspects are added to the fact that the price of copper is going through a period of high value, which was lacking in many years", he adds.
- What are the challenges that remain for the short term?
Continue to promote mineral exploration in order to locate new sources for the coming years. On the legislation subject, we need to approve, during 2010, the Mine Closure Law, and finally incorporate to the Capital Markets the mining sector in order to support the development of medium-scale mining.
Santiago Gonzalez has been Mining Minister during two years and had an important participation in the 2008 version of Expomin, leading the opening ceremony and leading different activities, in his role of President of the Organizing Committee of Expomin.
For him and for the Mining Ministry, the importance of Expomin is gravitating, "representing the largest fair of Latin America and the second in the world. Given this scenario, Expomin continues its leadership in the fairs of the global mining and remains as an excellent and unique showcase, where are presented new technologies, goods, supplies and services from the country to the world".
- In the context of Expomin 2010 that develops in the celebration of the bicentennial of Chile: what is your assessment about "Chile, Mining Country."
The planned investment in Chile for the next five years will reach 22.000 millions dollars ranking Chile among the mining districts with higher-level development in the world. This means having a mature country in the development of mining but with a great opportunity to continue growing in the coming years.
- For the version 2010, Expomin has include, in its International Congress, the leaders of the industry to present the latest trends in management, risk management, investment projects and human resources. What is the significance of these issues in the present context of national and international mining?
Chile prioritizes the development of its mining as a sustainable and respectful of the environment activity, implementing a long-term economic policy and motivating private investment. A wide debate on these issues is very important for the future of national and international management of mining.
- Another of the central topics of Expomin 2010 will be "Recycling and Recovery of Metals and Materials". What is the feasibility of installing recycling culture, emerging topic in Chile today?
The culture of recycling has been slow but steady in Chile, and I mean in all areas. Today there is some awareness that we need a better attitude, from the management of household waste by separating waste, to be able to develop industrial recycling capacity.
- What are the expectations of the Mining Ministry about a fair as Expomin, which represents an area where confluence major suppliers, mining cluster representatives and public and private sector?
For the Government of Chile, Expomin has been an adequate space where we can expose the guidelines that have inspired our Mining Policy, built on a harmonious set of legal instruments that provide the necessary legal certainty to attract investment. The expectations of the Mining Ministry are focused on projecting the image of Chile as a world business center and provide the conditions for a major foreign investment in the sector.
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