Chilean lawmakers passed the Framework Law for Sectoral Authorizations on Tuesday, aimed at cutting permitting times for mining and energy projects by 30% to 70%, responding to industry demands for faster approval processes in the world’s largest copper-producing country.
The legislation, known as LMAS (Ley Marco de Autorizaciones Sectoriales), passed with 93 votes in favor, 27 against, and 17 abstentions, and now awaits the president’s signature to become law.
“We are very happy because this is a very important advance for the country. After more than a year of processing, we have managed to approve this project with cross-party support,” Economy Minister Nicolas Grau said in an official statement. “We always said that it was possible to improve times and modernize and streamline processes in a sustained way, without lowering regulatory standards, and that is what has been achieved today.”
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The new law modifies more than 40 regulations across various sectors and creates a digital system called SUPER for centralized permit processing. Officials say the platform, a ‘digital one-stop shop’, will provide end-to-end tracking and better agency coordination.
Industry groups had pushed for the changes, contending that slow approval timelines were hampering investment in Chile, which accounts for roughly 23.6% of worldwide copper production and stands as the globe’s second-biggest lithium producer.
National Mining Society president Jorge Riesco welcomed the legislation as progress while noting that further improvements remain necessary.
The reforms should particularly benefit northern Chile’s Antofagasta region, a key mining hub. Government data shows Chile’s copper market share could grow to 27.3% by 2034, helping cement its status as the top global producer despite some recent output declines.
The government emphasized that the efficiency improvements will not compromise environmental or regulatory standards.
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