The world's largest copper producer will use these explosives at its Radomiro Tomic mine, after signing an agreement with the manufacturer Enaex.

Chilean state-owned copper giant Codelco, the world's largest copper producer, said Thursday it will start using explosives with a 40% lower carbon footprint at its Radomiro Tomic mine as part of efforts to improve its environmental standards.

Through an agreement with the manufacturer Enaex, the division would be the first mining operation to use Prillex ECO2, whose main component is blue ammonium nitrate.

Chairman of the Board, Máximo Pacheco, said that the agreement makes the mining company a pioneer "in using an innovative product in the explosives market, which will contribute to fulfilling our commitments to sustainable development."

"Its production involves 40% fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to grey ammonium," the company said in a statement.

Blue ammonium nitrate is produced using advanced carbon capture and storage technologies, which significantly reduces CO2 emissions during its manufacture, he added.

In addition, the explosive manufacturer's plant self-generates half of what it requires through turbochargers.

Codelco said the new component will produce a significant reduction in scope 3 emissions at Radomiro Tomic, which consumes about 40% of the mining company's explosives.

Codelco has a goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.