Gold Fields, the South African mining company, has been notified that Chile’s Environmental Regulator (SMA) has begun sanction proceedings against the Salares Norte project due to infringements in the process of relocating short-tailed chinchillas residing in the project area.
According to Gold Fields: ‘The sanction proceedings will not impact the commissioning of the Salares Norte mine in the Atacama region in northern Chile, due to be completed in Q1 2023, as the mine and processing plant construction is not taking place in an area of known Chinchilla habitation.’
The relocation project was launched in August 2020. The plan – approved by the Chileans – was to live-capture the chinchillas and place them in wire-mesh enclosures for a few weeks to adapt to their new surroundings a few kilometres from their home habitat.
Two of the animals died during the first attempt, while two survived and are still alive in their new home territory.
However, the deaths brought the relocation to a grinding halt and it is still on hold.
The chinchilla is a highly endangered rodent that was almost hunted to extinction for its highly prized fur.