Copiapo Mining Case Study

Although, this company continually denies responsibility for this issue, they are the reason that the Copiapo River Basin, “upon which thousands of farmers depend” on had run dry (Ortega, 2014). As this company was involved in many partnerships in regard to their philanthropy and Corporate Social Responsibility, they were never incriminated for such immoral practices when the community went to their superiors. Another incident in which locals’ lives are being greatly affected is Canadian company’ Goldcorp’s operations in Guatemala. Citizens reported of various health problems such as rashes, loss of hair, respiratory problems, an increase in miscarriages, birth defects, animals to die from drinking the contaminated water and other major health
These components are vital in production efficiency with any economy. Mining is essential in daily life being a major compound in increasing the standard of living. It provides society the ability to use minerals, electricity, develop products and infrastructure required every day. This industry is also a significant factor in the economy and employment levels. Hence the reason, it is crucial to begin incorporating actions to make the process of mining less deleterious to the environment. Techniques to attain this goal includes, stricter regulations and procedures to properly dispose of wastes emitted as precautionary strategies. This reduction in the cost of harming the environment will counterbalance the cost of these plans. “The US company Molycorp spent 10 million USD on its paste-tailings operation, but the water and chemical reagents it was able to recycle saved have already paid for the installment, in addition to generating less waste” (The Future of Strategic Natural Resources, n.d.). Mining demands a high quantity of water, in which, the remaining wastewater pollutes surrounding water bodies and exhaust adjacent freshwater supplies. To mitigate this, “some mines… have implemented waste-water recycling technologies, resulting in a huge decrease in water demands and liquid
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Ortega, A. D. (2014, October 03). Too close for comfort. Retrieved January 21, 2018, from http://www.corporateknights.com/channels/mining/too-close-for-comfort-13542048/
The Future of Strategic Natural Resources. (n.d.). Environmental Risks of Mining. Retrieved March 01, 2018, from