Aurubis, Codelco sign an MoU as part of a wider German-Chilean Raw Materials Partnership

According to a joint news release from the companies, the MoU stipulates that they will make a concerted effort to promote the Copper Mark, which they describe as “the gold standard for sustainability and supply chain integrity in the copper industry.” 

The Copper Mark says it demonstrates responsible production practices in the copper, molybdenum, nickel and zinc industries and the commitment of such industries to the green transition. Since December 2019, The Copper Mark has been an independent entity that is governed by its board of directors and a multistakeholder Advisory Council.  It is designed to be a comprehensive social and environmental assurance system for copper production that recognizes copper producers that have adopted internationally accepted responsible operating practices and make significant contributions to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Aurubis CEO Roland Harings says, "The world needs metals such as copper to achieve the climate targets as well as transform the industry. In the foreseeable future, primary materials will be needed to meet the constantly increasing global copper demand. That is why it is very important that participants along the entire value chain work together and adhere to certain standards. This is the only way we can ensure that metals are produced in a truly responsible way.”

He adds that Aurubis uses a continuous improvement approach with its business, therefore he is “sincerely convinced that our future cooperation with Codelco has the potential to make an immense contribution to advancing the sustainability of the supply chain.”

Codelo Chairman Máximo Pacheco says increasing copper production in an environmentally responsible is a key challenge. “Our commitment is not only to the development of Chile but to the whole world, so the realization of initiatives like this contribute in a virtuous way to our objectives.”

Codelco CEO André Sougarret adds, "Responsible copper production is one of Codelco's strategic pillars, and that is why we have taken this challenge very seriously. We define a series of commitments to reduce the carbon footprint and consumption of inland waters, in addition to recycling industrial waste, among others. The only place Codelco can occupy in our country is to be a leader in development with environmental protection.”

Both parties have expressed their support of the German-Chilean Raw Materials Partnership, which was re-established in Santiago in presence of Gabriel Boric, president of Chile, and Olaf Scholz, chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany.

The new German-Chilean Raw Materials Partnership replaces a decades-old partnership, according to a Reuters report. It seeks to grow cooperation in the sector through an annual bilateral forum and state instruments to promote trade like investment guarantees.

Reuters reports that Scholz said at the news conference, “We want to help Chile on the way to a sustainable mining sector.”