In November 2018, Water. Desalination + reuse (Faversham House) reported that London-listed miner Antofagasta intended to add a desalination plant and a pipeline to the expansion of its Minera Los Pelambres copper mine. The mine sits in the Coquimbo region, 240 km north-east of Santiago. Of US$1.3 billion in total spending, US$500 million was assigned to the plant and pipeline. The water was meant for the expansion, a possible further growth phase and, in extreme drought, the existing operation. Work was set to begin in early 2019.
The project illustrated the turn of Chilean mining towards seawater desalination as a secure water source for production growth and drought resilience.