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Codelco'S $1 bln refinery gets environmental OK |
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| CHILE: January 31, 2003 | ||
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SANTIAGO, Chile - Chilean environmental authorities said they gave the green light to plans by Codelco, the world's No. 1 copper producer, to build a $1 billion copper smelter and refinery in northern Chile.
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A regional office of the National Environmental Commission (Conama), a governmental body, approved Codelco's environmental impact study on the project in a meeting last week. In a statement, the agency said it would oblige Codelco to carefully monitor gas emissions by the plant as well as its socioeconomic impact in the region. All major investment projects in Chile must obtain environmental permits and can be delayed if authorities find fault with the company's environmental impact study. Codelco, a state-owned company, plans to seek a partner this year to help finance the plant in Mejillones, northern Chile, which would produce at least 1 million tonnes per year of highly-refined copper cathodes. A feasibility study on the Mejillones project is due for completion by February.
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REUTERS NEWS SERVICE
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