Meet Dominga

Dominga is a seaport and mining venture with a mission to generate sustainable growth and development for both Chile and the Coquimbo Region. The Project considers producing high-grade iron concentrate, which will help mitigate greenhouse gas emissions in global steel production.

Through the production of high-grade iron concentrate and copper concentrate mined at the Commune of La Higuera, Chile can contribute to the environmental goals it has undertaken internationally to face climate change.

We invite you to learn about the Dominga Project and view our plans to create employment, entrepreneurship, environmental protection, and to promote the autonomous development of local communities.

We are aware of the presence of a Hotspot of global biodiversity in the vicinity of the Project and it is our purpose to PROTECT, RESEARCH, UNDERSTAND AND STRENGTHEN IT.

Where will Dominga be?

We will be located in the Commune of La Higuera , in the north of the Coquimbo Region, an area historically linked to seaport mining activity and characterized by its high marine and terrestrial biodiversity, the lack of water resources and, as well as by its historical condition of socioeconomic vulnerability.

More and Better Development

During the construction phase, we plan to create 10,000 direct jobs and 25,000 indirect jobs. During the operation stage, we have projected the creation of 1,500 direct jobs and 4,000 indirect jobs.

New Mining: Shared Value

We believe in a New Sustainable Mining that is respectful and inclusive of communities as well as efficient and transparent in its processes.

We promote the co-construction of our project through the strengthening of a proactive relationship between the community and Dominga, in order to ensure the needs and expectations of the inhabitants regarding their environment and quality of life are considered.

Latest news

What is the Dominga Project?

We are a seaport mining project located in the Region of Coquimbo, with mineral deposit situated 16 km northwest of the town of La Higuera, where the plant, the two pits, the waste dump and the tailings thickened deposit shall be set.

The plant will be connected to the seaport boarding terminal through three 26-kilometer underground pipelines that will carry water and iron.

The seaport shipping terminal will be located in the town of Totoralillo Norte, where the Commune´s   first mining seaport was built, and where the new facilities for the collection, filtration and shipment of iron concentrate through closed conveyor belts system will be and mobile loaders will carry the iron concentrate directly to the ship’s holds, avoiding material leaks.

A desalination plant that will allow us to operate with seawater in all our processes, in addition to delivering 5 Liters per second of desalinated water, available to be processed to drinking water for the Commune of La Higuera.

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Dominga´s Timeline

2006

Discovery of the Iron, Copper and Gold deposit in the commune of La Higuera, Coquimbo Region.

2010
December

Andes Iron buys 100% of the Dominga Project from Minería Activa.

2011
January

Andes Iron initiates a participatory process in the La Higuera Commune to inform the community, respond to their concerns and receive their suggestions.

2011
February

An Environmental Impact Statement (DIA) is presented to develop Dominga North and South Prospecting activity. The DIA qualification process had two Addendum and obtained its environmental approval (RCA) on July 15, 2011. The preparation of local young people for their participation in the work associated with the Dominga Prospecting activity begins.

2012
July

The Regional Commission for the Use of the Coastal Border (CRUBC) grants Project Dominga the maritime concession for the port in the bay of Totoralillo Norte.

2013
September

The Environmental Impact Study (EIA) for the Dominga Seaport Mining Project is submitted to the SEA for evaluation.

2014-2017

The Project goes through an exhaustive process of review of the environmental assessment presented, the period during which various reports are submitted to the Environmental Assessment Service (EAS). During this process, 4 reports are received with questions from the competent authorities, which are all answered by Andes Iron, accounting for a long and detailed process. In addition, three formal citizen participation processes were carried out.

2016
October

The Dominga Mining Project and the Community of La Higuera sign a Framework Agreement for the Human, Productive and Environmental Development of the La Higuera commune. The document is signed by over 1,600 adult residents of the commune.

2017
February

The Environmental Assessment Service (SEA) issues the Consolidated Environmental Assessment Report (ICE), recommending the approval of the Dominga Project for complying with the environmental regulations in force in our country.

2017
March

The Regional Evaluation Council, made up of 12 regional authorities, rejects to grant a favourable RCA Environmental Rating Resolution for the Dominga Project. The vote was a tie and the Regional Superintendent of the time decided to reject the project because he considered the country required an environmental standard (legal framework) higher than the one in force at the time.

2017
May

Andes Iron appeals the decision of the Regional Evaluation Council to the Committee of Ministers

2017
August

The Committee of Ministers is summoned to discuss matters that did not include the Dominga Project. Only at the last hour of the previous business day the Dominga Project was incorporated in the discussion like the principal subject and the vote proceeded, but despite the acknowledgement of its unlawfulness by five of the votes, the Committee ratified the regional rejection of the project. Subsequently, two ministers of the economic team of the government of the time presented their resignation.

2017
November

The Antofagasta Environmental Court admits a claim that seeks to reverse the rejection of the Dominga Project.

2018
January

Legal arguments are made in the Antofagasta Environmental Court.

2018
February

Inspection of the Dominga Project site area by members of the Antofagasta Environmental Court.

2018
March

The Antofagasta Environmental Court proposes a conciliation act to the parties. Dominga agrees to the invitation, however, the SEA refrains from participating.

2018
April

The Antofagasta Environmental Court rules in favor of the Dominga Project ordering the project to be restituted back to the time immediately after the publication of the ICE, considering that both votes in 2017 were arbitrary and illegal.

2018
June

The Project´s opponents submit six appeals to the Supreme Court to try to revert the decision of the Antofagasta Environmental Court.

2018
September

The Project´s opponents submit a Constitutional Non Applicability Requirement at the Constitutional Court against the decision of the Antofagasta Environmental Court.

2018
October

The Constitutional Court does not admit appeals filed against the Project, ruling in favor of Dominga.

2019
February

The Supreme Court ends hearing arguments on the 6 appeals filed by opponents of the Project.

2019
March

The Supreme Court agrees with the appeals presented and appoints the Minister for the redaction of the decision taken.

2019
September

The Supreme Court issues a ruling that rejects Dominga’s claim regarding the complaint of formal vices in the processing of administrative claims and in the decision of the Committee of Ministers. Returns the case to the Antofagasta Environmental Court ordering the court to refer to points that were not previously addressed. That is, the First Environmental Tribunal must refer to the integrity of the background of the environmental assessment file and the technical aspects used by the Committee of Ministers to support the rejection of the project.

2019
October

The Antofagasta Environmental Court receives the case, sets a date for the hearing of the case and asks the parties to announce themselves to allege.

2021
April

The First Environmental Tribunal of Antofagasta, resolved unanimously, that the Dominga mining-port project fully complies with the current environmental regulations, in addition to having submitted all the necessary information for its correct environmental assessment.

2021
August

The Environmental Tribunal of Antofagasta ordered last April, to hold a new regional vote, this time adjusted to law, after determining, unanimously, that the company presented sufficient information for its correct evaluation.

Our commitment to the environment

Part of the desalinated water that we will produce will be delivered to the Commune of La Higuera.

Dominga will create an independent Scientific Research Centre that will work to deepen the applied knowledge to the marine and terrestrial environment.

The project includes a flora protection plan that ensures and promotes the active conservation of the terrestrial ecosystem inside an area equal to the one directly affected by the project.

Our desalination plant will return the water to the sea without desalination system chemicals, with the original temperature and level of salt.

The Dominga marine route establishes the transit of our ships at more than 20 km away from the Humboldt Penguin Reserve.

Mining Tradition

By the beginning of the 19th century, workers, adventurers and investors were already extracting minerals from the “Norte Chico“, or the little north -the former provinces of Atacama and Coquimbo-.

The mine known as “El Tofo”, located at the  commune of La Higueraand exploited since 1870, was the most important iron mine of its time, operating the first electric railroad in South America to transport the iron to its seaport.

The prosperity brought by mining activity in this area was such, that the construction of the country´s first railway, in 1851, was financed with regional capital. This railway linked the city of Copiapó with the new seaport of Caldera.

The Dominga project salvages a long established tradition in the region, linked to its territorial identity and anchored in mining heritage, rescuing its historical value and giving it a renewed meaning.

Document yourself

Here you can access the project´s Environmental Impact Study submitted in September 2013 to the Environmental Impact Assessment System.
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Here you can access the Framework Agreement of 2016 between Andes Iron and 1,600 neighbors of the La Higuera commune.
See document
Here you can access the Consolidated Environmental Assessment Report (ICE) prepared by the Environmental Assessment Service (SEA) which endorses the approval of the project, in agreement with Chilean environmental regulations.
See document
Here you can access the Dominga Project file at the First Environmental Court.
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Here you can download infographic material that will help you get to know Dominga better.
See document

Jot Down

Direct new jobs during construction.
Direct new jobs during operation.
Indirect new jobs during construction.
Indirect new jobs during operation.

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What will we produce?

During the 22 years of projected operation of two open-pit mines located in the La Higuera Commune, 16 km northeast of communal capital, we expect to extract 12 million tons per year of High-Grade iron concentrate – contributing with the necessary reduction of CO2 emissions in the steel industry – and 150 thousand tons per year of copper concentrate – cooperating with electromobility.

How will we affect the lives of the people living in the area?

We will activate the zone and the Region´s productive sector. During the construction phase we plan to create 10,000 direct jobs and 25,000 indirect jobs. During the stage of operation, we expect the creation of 1,500 direct jobs and 4,000 indirect jobs.

These jobs, which are preferentially destined to regional workers and companies, will revitalize the communal, regional and national economy.

In addition, we have a robust social proposal that acknowledges the right of the Commune´s population to benefit from the mineral resources. In this context, the Company has signed a Framework Agreement along with over 1,600 neighbors, where we pledge to share the profits with the entire community through the transfer of funds to finance those projects that the community considers appropriate according to their social and economic value.

Where will we get water to operate?

We will use seawater in all our processes. To this end, we will install a desalination plant with a collection container situated 750 meters from the coast and 20 meters below ground, where the presence of plankton is significantly lower. The discharge pipe has a 44m diffuser system, located 720m from the coast, with 12 jets spaced at 4 m with a dilution capacity of 95% in a range of 4 m.

Will there be water shortage in the Commune of La Higuera?

On the contrary, part of the desalinated water produced will be delivered to the Commune of La Higuera: 5 liters per second of desalinated water, available to be processed as drinking water.

If we find fresh water in layer deposits, what will we do with it?

To ensure its normal flow, any fresh water we might find in layer deposits will be captured and returned to its natural course, thus maintaining the natural evolution of Los Choros Aquifer.

Will mining waste or tailings contaminate underground water or rainwater?

Our proposed modern tailings management system reduces the likelihood of leakage into groundwater or through rainwater.

The thickened tailings deposit system considers reducing the moisture content in the material to be deposited, thus facilitating its compaction and drying, minimizing the risk of acidic water generation.

In addition, and as a safety precaution, the thickened tailings deposit will be located over 40 kilometers from protected areas beyond a mountain range, upstream and across from the local highway.

Why won't we affect the Humboldt Penguin National Reserve?

Our seaport and water desalination plant will be located 30 kilometers away, in a straight line, from the Humboldt Penguin National Reserve, even further than the Cruz Grande mining port of the Pacific Mining Company (CAP), already granted approval by the same institution that assessed Dominga.

There are already some 1,600 ships currently circulating, along the coasts of the Coquimbo Region a year, just a few kilometers from the Humboldt Penguin National Reserve (approx. 5 km).

Our project estimates traffic flow of 56 vessels per year, at a speed of 18 km per hour and more than 20 km away from the Reserve.

We have a deep commitment to the environment, therefore we have worked on a strong, binding and independent proposal, which provides scientific knowledge of current and future conditions of marine biodiversity and thus adjusts all our operations and those of any company, to the goal of environment protection.

Some of our numbers

Million US dollars of investment.
Projected years of operation.
Formal processes for active citizen involvement and participation.
Signatures from neighbors within the Framework Agreement.

AVISO IMPORTANTE
ESTAFA VÍA CORREO ELECTRÓNICO

Circula en redes sociales una información falsa sobre ofertas laborales para trabajar en Andes Iron SpA. Al respecto, queremos aclarar que:

  • Andes Iron SpA no solicita ni solicitará ningún pago para postular a una vacante laboral en nuestra empresa.
  • Informamos a las personas para que tomen los resguardos necesarios y no sean víctimas de este tipo de estafas.
  • Todos los procesos de selección serán notificados de manera oportuna a través de nuestros canales corporativos formales.

Difunde y comparte, es tarea de todos cuidarnos.



Asuntos Corporativos Andes Iron.

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According to the provisions of Law 19.628 on the Protection of Personal Data, Dominga will not store or distribute the email that has been entered in our contact form for other fines other than the sea, the respondent affected by your request. The requirements that come to us through this channel can be published, anonymously, in order to feed a repository of queries and responses.