Andes iron presented its sustainability proposal at the 25th anniversary meeting of the global compact

Francisco Villalón, Corporate Affairs and Sustainable Development Manager at Andes Iron, played an active role at the High-Level Meeting: Transformative Challenges for a Sustainable Future, organized by the United Nations Global Compact to commemorate its 25th anniversary. The event brought together more than 200 companies from across the country and reached around 300,000 views on the Emol TV platform.
The UN Global Compact is a special initiative of the United Nations Secretary-General that calls on companies worldwide to align their operations and strategies with Ten Principles in the areas of Human Rights, Labor Relations, Environment, and Anti-Corruption. Its goal is to accelerate and amplify the global impact of business by contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through responsible companies and ecosystems that foster change.

Andes Iron joined the Global Compact in 2024 and this year is already part of its Executive Committee alongside companies such as L’Oréal, Nestlé, Sodimac, Antofagasta Minerals, Copec, and CMPC, among others.

During the panel discussion, the Andes Iron executive shared ideas and best practices with corporate affairs managers and vice presidents, including Juan Pablo Shaeffer from Anglo American, Andrés Eyzaguirre from Nestlé Chile, and Pilar Romaguera from the University of the Americas.
Villalón addressed topics such as regulatory demands and community expectations. He stated: “We are promoting a mining project that has been approved and fully complies with environmental regulations. Based on our experience, we believe Chile faces the challenge of taking a leap forward, of marking a turning point. The debate, in our view, must focus on respect for institutional frameworks and the value of responsible, well-executed investment.”

He also spoke about some of Dominga’s socio-environmental commitments with the communities of the Coquimbo Region, such as sharing desalinated water with La Higuera, which suffers from severe water scarcity; the Framework Agreement for Human, Productive and Environmental Development; and the voluntary social royalty proposed by the company to generate resources for projects that directly benefit the quality of life of families in La Higuera.

The panel members recognized Andes Iron’s resilience over more than a decade of work. “I want to express my solidarity with Dominga as a great project for this country, which has been paralyzed by institutional problems for so long. The resilience it has shown throughout this time fills us with pride as Chileans,” said Andrés Eyzaguirre, Director of Corporate Affairs at Nestlé Chile.

GLOBAL COMPACT IN REGIONS
Francisco Villalón took the opportunity to announce the creation of a regional chapter of the Global Compact in the Coquimbo Region, together with ISA, Antofagasta Minerals, and local industry associations. “This is a strategic step that will allow us to build strong alliances and advance these commitments from within the territories,” he noted.

He concluded with a reflection: “It is important never to abandon our convictions. A project like Dominga, which has faced obstacles, has challenged us to move forward with coherence, with the firm support of local communities, learning from experience but above all, pursuing development while protecting the environment. Mining is good for Chile, and Dominga is a good project for Chile. Responsible, conscious, and sustainable mining is possible.”

Watch the full panel here: https://youtu.be/CxlCBsdRNfM?si=glUiO4OezOy0zSsB