Chile’s Largest Copper Mines Advance Water and Carbon Reduction Projects
Brazil
Embrapa identified an area of more than 700 K km² in the central-northern Amazon region where maximum temperatures during the dry season increased by at least 0.75°C per decade. From 1981 to 2023, the cumulative increase reached 3.22°C, more than twice the average warming rate calculated for the Amazon region as a whole. The affected area represents approximately 10% of the Amazon Basin and includes historically better-preserved regions. (Embrapa)
The Brazilian Forest Service held in Altamira, State of Pará, the second public hearing on a concession proposal to restore approximately 30 K ha of the Altamira National Forest. The project includes carbon credits, native-species silviculture and non-timber forest products and estimates approximately US$ 110 million in investments over 40 years and the removal or avoidance of approximately 10 million tonnes of carbon. Public consultation remains open until October 30th. (SFB)
Embrapa developed a model that estimated a grey water footprint up to 116 times higher when considering the combined presence of herbicides in water rather than assessing each substance separately. Grey water footprint is the volume of water needed to dilute pollutants to concentrations considered safe. The research assessed 17 herbicides used in sugarcane. (Embrapa)
Federal Police, the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources and National Foundation of Indigenous Peoples carried out an inspection against illegal deforestation on Indigenous lands in the southern State of Mato Grosso do Sul. Teams found locations with tree cutting and timber processing and gathered evidence for administrative and law-enforcement measures. (PF; Ibama; Funai)
MAPA completed the final report of the El Niño working group and proposed a permanent climate risk management structure, including an integrated information, monitoring and alert platform. Recommendations include expanding resilient production systems, water security and integrating Agricultural Climate Risk Zoning with good practices, rural credit, insurance and the Agricultural Activity Guarantee Program. (MAPA)
Perenco Brazil and Port of Açu signed an agreement to develop the first offshore platform electrification project in the Campos Basin [Bacia de Campos], State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Perenco plans to invest US$ 110 million in the project, which will use an approximately 80 km submarine cable to supply grid electricity to the Pargo and Cherne hubs, reducing the use of gas for on-site power generation. Operations are expected to begin in 2028. (Perenco; Port of Açu)
Vale will begin a partial resumption of operations at the Fábrica Mine in Ouro Preto, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, following authorization from the State Court of Justice. The restart is subject to safety requirements, environmental controls, licenses and other conditions established under an agreement with the State Public Prosecutor’s Office and the state government. (Vale)
Braskem stated that the company’s out-of-court restructuring process does not change commitments established under agreements with authorities in Maceió, State of Alagoas, Brazil. By the end of June, the company had disbursed approximately US$ 2.8 billion of approximately US$ 3.5 billion provisioned for agreements related to impacts from rock salt mining, including urban development, mobility and compensation measures. (Braskem)
Brazilian Development Bank – BNDES made the first disbursement, approximately US$ 3.5 million, for a Courageous Land project in Rorainópolis, State of Roraima, Brazil, to establish 2 K ha of agroforestry systems on degraded land. The disbursement is part of approximately US$ 22 million in Climate Fund financing for a project with total investment of approximately US$ 65 million, combining coffee, açaí, cocoa and native timber species. The project plans to plant approximately 9.7 million seedlings and remove 33.9 K tonnes of CO₂ equivalent per year. (BNDES – 9/30/26)
The Brazilian National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels authorized operation of the BMAX Biocombustível biodiesel plant in Barra do Garças, State of Mato Grosso, Brazil, with a capacity of 100 K L/day. The facility, acquired by the company in 2023 after years out of operation, joins the national biodiesel production base. The plant is located in a major soybean-producing region. (Official Gazette; ANP – 9/28/26)
University of Campinas – Unicamp and Bionow, a startup backed by CENIBRA and Vale, signed an agreement of US$ 211 K R&D to develop renewable fuel from tar generated during biochar production from forest biomass in Brazil. The one-year project will seek to improve the stability and quality of the byproduct and increase utilization of biomass used in the process. (Unicamp – 9/29/26)
Latin America
IDB Invest signed a US$ 20 million loan to energy company Energética Argentina for construction of the Vientos Bonaerenses III and IV wind farms in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. The projects will include 16 wind turbines with combined installed capacity of 99.1 MW. (IDB Invest)
The National Agricultural Technology Institute – INTA released new studies and methodologies addressing environmental risks to agriculture in Argentina. In Córdoba, it published a year-round wildfire prevention model developed over four years across approximately 50 K ha. In the Rolling Pampas, it warned even no-till areas may face water erosion when soil cover is insufficient, soils are compacted or slopes extend over long distances. In Patagonia, a trial simulating different climate scenarios for 2040 indicated forage-production declines of up to 42% under the most adverse warming and rainfall conditions. (INTA)
A project carried out by the University of Concepción with support from the Chilean Economic Development Agency tested the use of grape pomace from the wine industry as sheep feed in Chile. Including up to 20% dried pomace in the diet did not affect growth or digestive health, reduced by 8%-10% the amount of feed required for similar results and increased slaughter yield by 1.5%. The project is also evaluating effects on greenhouse gas emissions. (Minagri; Corfo)
Two of the largest copper mines in Chile advanced initiatives to reduce their environmental impacts. Anglo American started supplying desalinated water to Los Bronces, with capacity of up to 500 L/second, enough to cover more than 45% of the operation’s water demand. BHP and Amazon, meanwhile, launched a pilot project to trade certificates linked to lower emissions from copper produced at Escondida, the world’s largest copper mine. Los Bronces aims to eliminate fresh water use in mining processes by 2030, while Escondida operates with renewable electricity and desalinated water. (Anglo American; BHP)
Copec and dairy cooperative Colun signed an agreement to install 4.86 K solar panels at the new Colun cheese plant in La Unión, Chile. The system will cover more than 21 K m² and is expected to generate approximately 3,357 MWh of renewable power in the first year, reducing the facility’s reliance on grid power. (Copec)
Walmart Chile and Copec inaugurated the first green hydrogen refueling station for heavy-duty trucks in Chile. The pilot includes two trucks with a range of more than 600 km and an estimated refueling time of 20 minutes. According to Walmart, the technology could avoid 380 tonnes of CO₂ emissions per year. (Walmart Chile – 9/30/26)
EBI Chile acquired ZeroCorp, a company specialized in treatment and recovery of industrial organic waste in Chile. The acquisition includes three plants: a composting facility in Purranque and two facilities in Maullín and Loncoche that convert liquid organic waste into fertilizers. Operations serve sectors including agribusiness, dairy, aquaculture and sanitation. Transaction value was not disclosed. (EBI Chile – 9/28/26)
Patria Investments announced the sale of the stakes in the Puerta de Oro solar park to ISAGEN, a power generation company in Colombia. The 360 MWp project has more than 511 K solar modules, secured approximately US$ 250 million in financing and is expected to generate 728 GWh per year, avoiding approximately 370 K tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually. Transaction value was not disclosed. (Patria Investments)
The Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development of Colombia announced changes on two environmental policy fronts. The government started proceedings to revoke Decree 973/2026, which created a new carbon-market framework, after identifying procedural flaws in the issuance, and intends to propose that Congress increase from 50% to 100% the share of the carbon tax that may be offset with eligible certificates. In parallel, the Ministry and The Nature Conservancy announced an effort to expand corporate participation in the Obras por Impuestos tax mechanism. Eight current projects mobilize approximately US$ 20 million across five departments and cover more than 7.4 K ha. (MinAmbiente – 9/29/26)
A bulletin from the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies listed in Colombia, 38 municipalities under vegetation-fire threat alerts: one at high level, 17 at moderate level and 20 at low level. Guadalajara de Buga, in Valle del Cauca, was the only municipality under a high alert. (Ideam – 9/29/26)
The environmental authority of Valle del Cauca declared two new protected areas totaling approximately 2.58 K ha in Colombia. The areas include 20 wetlands in Bugalagrande, Andalucía and Tuluá, as well as approximately 698 ha in Buenaventura, expanding protection of ecosystems, water and soils in the region. (CVC; MinAmbiente)
Proparco, a French development finance institution, announced US$ 73 million in financing for solar energy projects in Colombia and Peru. In Colombia, Proparco and Finnfund committed US$ 33 million to invest in ERCO, backed by a European Union guarantee, to build and expand solar assets. In Peru, Proparco granted a US$ 40 million loan to Grupo Enhol, a Spanish renewable energy group, to finance the 467 MWp Illa project, expected to become the country’s largest solar power plant in 2027. (Proparco; Finnfund)
The government of Panama launched a US$ 8.2 million plan to address the impacts of El Niño and other adverse weather events. Measures include reservoirs, irrigation and pumping systems, crop protection, infrastructure and agricultural inputs, with a focus on the Dry Arc and Bocas del Toro. Approximately US$ 2.45 million will be allocated to water infrastructure benefiting 1.2 K farmers. (Ministry of Agricultural Development)
J.P. Morgan Natural Capital announced an investment of approximately US$ 200 million to develop a sustainable forestry platform in Paraguay, in partnership with Grupo Robinson. The project includes commercial forests, native forest restoration and production of timber, carbon credits and wood products. Capital deployment is expected to begin in early 2027. (J.P. Morgan Asset Management)
FAO updated the outlook for maize crop in Paraguay after torrential rainfall from mid-July to mid-August disrupted harvesting and caused localized losses in producing departments. Aggregate maize production in 2026 is forecast at 5.5 million tonnes, above the five-year average but below the previous-year record, supported by expanded plantings amid demand from ethanol and feed industries. (FAO)
SIDERPERU, a Gerdau Group steelmaker, secured a green credit line of up to US$ 185 million from Banco de Crédito del Peru – BCP to finance purchases of scrap metal used as raw material for steel production. The company reused more than 385 K tonnes of scrap in 2025. (SIDERPERU)
The government of Uruguay announced the environment and agriculture ministries will promote the drafting of legislation for the protection and sustainable management of natural grasslands. The country formally committed to halving the rate at which natural grasslands are converted to other land uses, a target incorporated into land-degradation neutrality commitments and second Nationally Determined Contribution under the international climate framework. (Government of Uruguay; MGAP)
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