All this in the midst of the process of indefinite suspension of operations of the Huachipato Steel Company, which has more than 20,000 direct and indirect jobs hanging in the balance.
On Tuesday, the Chilean steel group CAP held its ordinary shareholders meeting, where the company's board of directors was renewed and, in turn, the arrival of a well-known executive: André Sougarret.
The former executive president of Codelco arrives to replace Claudia Manuela Sánchez, and in the middle of the process of suspending operations at Siderúrgica Huachipato.
The president of CAP's board of directors, Juan Enrique Rassmuss, commented: "We value the arrival of André Sougarret to the company and we thank Claudia Manuela Sánchez for her dedication and contribution to the development of the company."
“This renewed board has a clear mission: to turn Grupo CAP into a leading company in the production of strategic minerals for decarbonization, through an integrated business portfolio and the development of innovative and sustainable products and solutions, promoting sustainable development. of Chile and the world, and generating value for shareholders,” he said in a statement.
ANDRÉ SOUGARRET JOINS THE BOARD OF CAP
Sougarret held various management positions in the world of mining, becoming executive vice president of Enami and general manager of Minera Esperanza and Minera Centinela of Antofagasta Minerals.
However, his career at the state-owned Codelco was rather short-lived: He took office on August 29, 2022 and less than a year later, on June 13, he presented his resignation, citing difficulties in reconciling aspects of his work and professional life.
In addition, the announcement also uncovered alleged “frictions” with the president of the copper company's board of directors, Máximo Pacheco, which would have led to the resignation of André Sougarret.
COMPANY REQUESTS THAT SURCHARGES BE EXTENDED FOR FIVE YEARS FOR HUACHIPATO
But the CAP shareholders meeting did not stop there.
It was the Group's general manager, Nicolás Burr, who was emphatic in saying that “there is a point of no return around mid-May,” referring to the suspension of Huachipato operations, according to Diario Financiero .
Let us remember that both the Steel Company and Moly Cop decided to once again provide information to the Anti-Distortion Commission to reconsider the decision to impose rates of 25% and 33% for steel bars and grinding balls from China, respectively.
However, Burr was blunt in saying that “those are our times. I don't know what the Commission's timelines are.”
In addition, the executive asked the Commission to extend the surcharges for five years, "as the European Union, Australia, India, and Máximo do, for example, countries that have more modern institutions than ours."
“I believe that we should all be part of the solution for Siderúrgica Huachipato (…) as shareholders, we have done everything in our part to be able to move forward and make the business viable,” said Burr regarding the statements of the Minister of Finance, Mario. Marcel, on possible improvements in competitive matters of the industry based in Talcahuano, according to DF .
