In January 2020, Mining Journal reported that Chile's copper commission Cochilco expected seawater use in mining to rise by 156% by 2030 to 11 m³/s, about 950,400 m³/d, while the use of inland water was set to fall by 6%. Seawater was to cover 65% of demand in Antofagasta, with Tarapacá at 60%, Atacama at 42% and Coquimbo at 25%. Around 90% of the desalinated water was intended for processing copper sulphide ores. According to the report, desalination added at least $1 billion to the cost of a large project.
The report showed how far Chilean copper mining was shifting to seawater. It also named limits, such as high capital costs, the energy needed to pump water into the highlands and open questions on brine discharge.