Marimaca Copper (TSX:MARI) has received formal Resolución de Calificación Ambiental for its flagship namesake oxide project in Chile’s Antofagasta region, paving the way for construction readiness in H2 2026.
The Environmental Qualification Resolution approval marks a pivotal derisking event for the company, unlocking the next stage of sectorial permitting, which governs construction and operational activities for the proposed 50,000tpa copper operation.
Located in Chile’s low coastal cordillera – one of the world’s most prolific copper belts – the Marimaca Oxide Project is regarded as one of the few new, scalable oxide copper developments capable of reaching production within this decade.
Marimaca’s Managing Director for Chile and CFO Jose Antonio Merino says the approval was the culmination of years of careful design and stakeholder collaboration.
“Developing our assets in Chile to the highest possible environmental and social standards is a core objective of Marimaca,” Merino says.
“We committed significant time and resources to our permitting strategy, to design a project which delivers strong environmental and social mitigation, a framework for ongoing risk management, and aligns with our corporate ethos to create long-term value for all stakeholders.”
Stakeholder engagement
Merino adds that engagement with local, regional, and government stakeholders had been instrumental in achieving a successful outcome, noting the company’s readiness to move forward with the next permitting phase.
With the approval in hand, Marimaca will now focus on obtaining sectorial permits, which cover the specific authorisations required for construction and operational phases.
The company is already advancing this process as part of its master execution schedule, designed to position the project for construction to start in H2 2026.
CEO Hayden Locke says the environmental approval places Marimaca in a strong position as it transitions toward final investment decision (FID) and project sanctioning.
Locke says the focus now shifts to the critical path toward final investment decision and project sanctioning, with an ambitious target of being ready in the second half of 2026.
While progressing development milestones at the Marimaca Oxide Project, exploration at the Pampa Medina target continues to advance, with the company signalling that an update is imminent.
Locke remains confident in the long-term potential of the broader district, noting opportunities to expand beyond the production profile outlined in the project’s Definitive Feasibility Study.
Write to Adam Orlando at Mining.com.au
Images: Marmaca
