Researched by Amir Richani for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Chile granted an environmental permit and allowed an extension to Anglo American plc's (London, England) Los Bronces copper mine earlier this week, despite protests from local groups. On Monday, a committee of Chilean ministers voted to approve an extension and environmental license for Los Bronces, which is estimated to spur investments of about US$3.3 billion.

Los Bronces is an open-pit copper mine in Los Andes, between Santiago and the Valparaiso regions, and it is operated by a consortium composed of Anglo American (50.1%), Codelco-Mitsui (29.5%) and Mitsubishi Corporation (20.4%).