After 12 years of proceedings, the supreme court closes the environmental debate on Dominga, thus consolidating its RCA

The Supreme Court has declared inadmissible the appeals filed by the Environmental Assessment Service (SEA) and opposing parties, confirming the full validity of Environmental Qualification Resolution (RCA) No. 161/2021 for the Dominga project.

This historic ruling marks a milestone for both the company and the country’s environmental institutions. Dominga is the project with the longest evaluation process in the 30-year history of the Environmental Impact Assessment System (SEIA), becoming a national reference for environmental permitting and judicialization.

With this decision, more than 12 years of proceedings and litigation come to an end, resolving all legal and technical matters and paving the way for the construction of Dominga: a long-awaited opportunity for the community of La Higuera and the Coquimbo Region.
The decision upholds the First Environmental Court’s December 2024 judgment and confirms that the actions of the Committee of Ministers were irregular, had legal flaws, unjustified delays, and unsubstantiated changes in technical criteria. Compliance by the First Environmental Court is now the sole pending step.

“This ruling confirms that Dominga was evaluated with scientific rigor and complies with current regulations. It is a sign of legal and institutional certainty, paving the way for sustainable investment that will bring development to La Higuera and the Region,” said Francisco Villalón, Andes Iron’s Corporate Affairs and Sustainable Development Manager.

The company noted that the project underwent a rigorous environmental assessment process, receiving a favorable Consolidated Evaluation Report (ICE) and approval from the Coquimbo Environmental Assessment Commission in 2021, is currently advancing with the sectoral permits required to begin construction.
In the judicial sphere, only one procedural discussion remains pending, filed with the Antofagasta Court of Appeals, regarding incidental compliance with the latest ruling of the First Environmental Court.

He also noted that the legal attempts made in recent months to halt the project were rejected at all levels, reaffirming the soundness of Dominga’s environmental approval.

The project involves an investment of US$2.5 billion, the creation of nearly 30,000 jobs during the construction phase, and a robust environmental mitigation, compensation, and monitoring plan. It will produce 12 million tons per year of high-grade iron concentrate (magnetite) and 150,000 tons of copper concentrate.