Image: Antofagasta

Antofagasta Plc has appointed María de la Luz Osses as the General Manager of its Compañía Minera Zaldívar mining operation.  

Osses will lead the operation in achieving the mine’s strategic objectives and driving growth. 

A metallurgical engineer, Osses brings over 27 years of industry experience to the role. In June 2021, she assumed the role of manager of Primary Sulphide projects, tasked with promoting the development and future growth of the company. In May 2023, she became Operations Manager, and in June 2025 she was appointed Interim General Manager, reporting directly to Octavio Araneda, Chief Operating Officer of Antofagasta’s Mining Division. 

Before joining Minera Zaldívar, Osses served as Director of Hydrometallurgical Processes and Product Portfolio at Codelco, and prior to that as Director of Hydrometallurgical Processes at Codelcotech SA, Codelco’s innovation subsidiary. 

The leadership announcement coincided with Minera Zaldívar signing a commitment to the Chilean National Service for Women and Gender Equality, beginning the mine’s certification process under Chilean Standard 3262. This standard establishes a management framework to promote gender equality and work-life balance in the workplace. 

The milestone, Antofagasta said, reflects the company's ongoing Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, which has already implemented the standard at its corporate centre in 2024 and is now being rolled out across several mining operations, including Zaldívar, Antucoya, and Centinela.