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Original article: COEVA: Gobierno de Kast del Biobío votará este 8 de junio cuestionado proyecto de Tierras Raras en Penco Lirquén

Crucial Vote on June 8: COEVA to Determine Future of Rare Earths Mining Project in Penco-Lirquén Amidst Strong Opposition

 “Just because a project has a favorable RCA does not mean it will be built”: Communities in Penco-Lirquén mobilize against rare earth miner recommended for approval by the SEA.

The Environmental Evaluation Commission (COEVA) of the Biobío Region will vote on the rare earths mining project sought by Aclara Resources on the hills of Penco-Lirquén on June 8, as reported by Resumen.cl on May 29, 2026.

The meeting, scheduled for 4:00 PM at the Regional Delegation offices, will include representatives from the government of José Antonio Kast, amid environmental concerns and opposition from local communities. The only item on the agenda is the vote on the Environmental Impact Study.

The political instance is led by the Presidential Delegation, currently overseen by Julio Antivia Zamora, noted Resumen.cl. The ministers involved in COEVA include those from the Environment, Health, Economy, Public Works, Agriculture, Housing, Energy, Mining, and Transport sectors.

Kast’s government has endorsed the controversial mining project in Penco-Lirquén, with reports indicating that Aclara Resources’ management could expedite the project’s processing.

Resumen.cl highlighted that COEVA’s vote is a crucial point in the environmental processing but cautioned that “just because it is approved doesn’t mean the project will actually materialize”.

The community of Penco-Lirquén has demonstrated that a favorable Environmental Qualification Resolution (RCA) does not guarantee construction. A recent example is the GNL Penco project, which, despite having favorable processing, has not been implemented due to ongoing public opposition.

SEA’s Recommendation

Environmental Evaluation Service Recommends Approval of Rare Earths Project

The Environmental Evaluation Service (SEA) of the Biobío region decided to recommend the approval of the rare earths project in Penco, owned by Aclara Resources, as reported by Radio Biobío on May 29, 2026. In the final section of a 552-page report, the SEA Biobío recommended the approval of the Environmental Impact Study of the “Mining Development Project for Extraction of Clays for Rare Earth Concentrate Production”, asserting that it complies with environmental regulations. The initiative entails an investment of US$130 million and is expected to create 2,200 direct and indirect jobs over a nine-year period.

5. Mitigation and Restoration Measures with Native Species

According to the Consolidated Report accessed by Radio Biobío, the SEA emphasized the proposal for mitigation, compensation, or restoration measures as “appropriate, considering the conditions and requirements established in point 13.2 of the ICE”, and that the project owner rectified “the errors, omissions, and inaccuracies raised” in previous reports.

For the closure phase, the SEA report states that the extracted areas and the disposal zone for the washed clays will be restored with native species, as detailed in the report.

The plant, according to the project, would have a production capacity of approximately 3,100 wet tons per year of concentrate. The “rare earths” are minerals widely used in cutting-edge technology and electronic equipment.

In recent years, their extraction has been at the center of disputes between powers like China and the United States, as some of these elements can be used in both powerful magnets and military technology as well as in “renewable” energies.

Watch the documentary «Rare Earths: The Dilemma of Penco and Greater Concepción» / RESUMEN

La entrada Biobío COEVA to Vote on Controversial Rare Earths Mining Project in Penco-Lirquén on June 8 se publicó primero en El Ciudadano.