Wismut, like the Chilean copper company, is a state-owned company and its main activity is the dismantling, cleaning and rehabilitation of old mining sites. It was previously the world's largest uranium producer.
The National Copper Corporation of Chile (Codelco) and the German company Wismut signed a collaboration agreement this Tuesday in Berlin, which will allow both companies to cooperate in matters such as the management of site closures, soil restitution and best practices. of sustainability.
This was part of the activities of President Gabriel Boric's tour to Europe.
The agreement was signed within the framework of the Chilean-German Economic Forum, with the presence of the head of state and the Parliamentary State Secretary of the German Federal Ministry of Economy, Franziska Brantner.
Its general director, Michael Paul, signed for Wismut; and for Codelco the president of the board of directors, Máximo Pacheco.
The initiative considers establishing an “exchange program that provides workers with potential for development, growth and international exposure, as well as a channel for the exchange of knowledge and experiences, which includes a work committee made up of four members from each company,” Codelco reported.
Wismut, like the local mining company, is a state-owned company and its main activity is the dismantling, cleaning and rehabilitation of former mining sites in the German states of Saxony and Thuringia.
Previously it was the largest producer of uranium in the world, until, after finishing that work in 1990, they changed to their current line of business.
In their 30 years of experience in mine closure, they have accumulated an investment of more than US$ 7 billion.
The German firm also has extensive experience in water treatment and environmental monitoring, being European leaders in rehabilitation.
“In Chile there is little experience in site closure, which can lead us to implement solutions that are not necessarily the most appropriate or efficient. This agreement with Wismut will allow us to rescue the best practices in Europe in matters that are very relevant to sustainability, such as soil recovery during site closures,” described Máximo Pacheco.
He added that both companies have held technical meetings since 2023, with visits and meetings that have sought to analyze the challenges of each in relation to soil rehabilitation.
“I am convinced that Codelco and Wismut have significant potential for collaboration, in order to promote sustainable mining practices and improve the reputation of the raw materials sector. Both are very necessary to meet the challenges facing an ecological transition, not only in Chile and Germany, but also from a global perspective,” said Michael Paul.
