Coal mining in Chile

Location of selected mines and deposits.

In Chile, coal mining is restricted to a few places located in its southern half (Zona Sur and Zona Austral). Energy originating from coal stands for 11,6% of Chile's electricity consumption.[1] Currently the country is not considered a major producer of coal.[2]

The three zones of mining are Biobío Region, Los Ríos Region and Magallanes Region in southernmost Chile.[1]

Biobío Region

In Biobío Region, large scale mining begun in the mid-19th century.[3] Lota's coal mines were nationalized by Salvador Allende due to civil unrest and heavy Socialist support, but privatized again under Augusto Pinochet.[4] Large scale coal mining in Biobío Region largely ended in the 1990s.[5]

Los Ríos Region

Coal mining in Los Ríos Region halted after an underground fire in 2001.[1]

Magallanes Region

In Magallanes Region, Riesco Island is being investigated for new projects.[5] Coal was first discovered in Magallanes Region by Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa who visited the Straits of Magellan in 1584.[6]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Carbon. CNE. Accessed on September 10. 2012.
  2. ↑ Coal Mining in Chile - Overview
  3. ↑ Endlicher, Wilfried. 1986. Desarrollo Histórico-genético y División Funcional del Centro Carbonífero. Revista de Geografía Norte Grande.
  4. ↑ Clifford Krauss, Chile's Leader Remains Socialist but Acts Like Pragmatist, Copyright 2001 The New York Times Company. December 10, 2001, Monday, Late Edition - Final
  5. 1 2 Explotacion Reservas. CNE. Accessed on September 10. 2012.
  6. ↑ Martinic, Mateo. 2004. LA MINERÍA DEL CARBÓN EN MAGALLANES ENTRE 1868 - 2003. Historia.
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