Former BHP executive to be appointed Chile’s mining minister

A former BHP Group executive will become Chile’s next mining minister, overseeing efforts to boost copper and lithium production in the nation with the world’s largest reserves.

Santiago Montt, who has a doctorate in law from Yale University, will be named to President-Elect José Antonio Kast’s cabinet in a ceremony Tuesday evening, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. Newspaper Diario Financiero reported his appointment earlier Tuesday.

Montt has served as chief executive officer at Vancouver-based Los Andes Copper Ltd. for the past three years, after previously handling corporate affairs at BHP Minerals Americas for over a decade. He will take over from Aurora Williams as minister when Kast is sworn in on March 11.

The mining industry is hoping Kast’s pro-business agenda will help companies to accelerate expansion projects after decades of mostly stagnant copper production amid declining ore quality.

Montt has first-hand experience with the challenges of developing mining projects in Chile. As CEO of Los Andes Copper he’s been trying to move forward the Vizcachitas project in the face of resistance from communities concerned about environmental impacts.

“The incoming minister faces the critical task of accelerating a substantial $105 billion backlog in mining investments, while simultaneously revising and amending imminent reforms to the permitting framework and environmental assessment processes,” said Cesar Perez-Novoa, an analyst at BTG Pactual in Santiago.

Montt, a lawyer who also has a master’s degree in political science from Princeton University, didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Kast’s office declined to comment.

(By James Attwood)