{{short description|Chilean state-owned mining company}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox company | name = Empresa Nacional de Minería | logo = | logo_alt = | logo_caption = | image = Edificio_Corporativo_de_la_Empresa_Nacional_de_Minería,_Santiago_20230417_01.jpg | image_alt = | image_caption = ENAMI building in Santiago | trade_name = | type = Private | industry = Mining | founded = {{Start date and age|1960}} | founder = Government of Chile | defunct = <!-- {{End date|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> | fate = | successor = <!-- or: successors = --> | hq_location = | hq_location_city = Santiago | hq_location_country = Chile | num_locations = | num_locations_year = <!-- Year of num_locations data (if known) --> | area_served = <!-- or: areas_served = --> | key_people = | products = | production = | production_year = <!-- Year of production data (if known) --> | brands = | services = | revenue = | revenue_year = <!-- Year of revenue data (if known) --> | operating_income = | income_year = <!-- Year of operating_income data (if known) --> | net_income = <!-- or: profit = --> | net_income_year = <!-- or: profit_year = --><!-- Year of net_income/profit data (if known) --> | assets = | assets_year = <!-- Year of assets data (if known) --> | equity = | equity_year = <!-- Year of equity data (if known) --> | owner = Chilean state | members = | members_year = <!-- Year of members data (if known) --> | num_employees = 1275<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dipres.gob.cl/596/articles-64217_recurso_1.pdf|title=Información OECD 2010 -2016|author=Dipres|accessdate=12 July 2017}}</ref> | num_employees_year = 2016 | parent = | divisions = | subsid = }} '''Empresa Nacional de Minería''' (National Mining Enterprise) better known by its acronym '''ENAMI''' is a Chilean state-owned mining company based in Santiago. Its business involve purchasing ore, primarily from small and medium-scale mining,{{sfn|Ulloa Urrutia|Contreras Biekert|Gana Aravena|Miranda Toledo|2017|p=50}} processing it is and selling the processed product, usually copper, in the international market.{{sfn|Ulloa Urrutia|Contreras Biekert|Gana Aravena|Miranda Toledo|2017|p=50}} ENAMI has also its role in providing technical and financial assistance for mining in its target segment.{{sfn|Ulloa Urrutia|Contreras Biekert|Gana Aravena|Miranda Toledo|2017|p=50}} Its board president is the Chilean minister of mining, who since August 2023 is Aurora Williams.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Organigrama |url=https://www.enami.cl/SobreENAMI/Pages/Organigrama.aspx |access-date=2025-03-20 |website=enami.cl |language=es}}</ref><ref name="Ningthoujam">{{Cite web |last=Ningthoujam |first=Natalia |date=2023-08-17 |title=Chile's President Reorganizes Cabinet For 3rd Time Amid Low Approval Rating |url=https://www.latintimes.com/chiles-president-reorganizes-cabinet-3rd-time-amid-low-approval-rating-545865 |access-date=2023-08-23 |website=Latin Times |language=en}}</ref> ENAMI was created in 1960 by the merger of Caja de Crédito y Fomento Minero (CACREMI) and Empresa Nacional de Fundiciones.<ref name=soren>{{Cite journal |title=La formalización de la pequeña minería en Chile: logros y desafíos de la Empresa Nacional de Minería (ENAMI) |journal=Investigaciones Geográficas |last=Scholvin |first=Sören |volume=66 |pages=1–13 |last2=Atienza |first2=Miguel |language=es}}</ref> The company is aimed to help small-scale miners by among other things buying ore in quantities that are otherwise too small to be traded in the international market.<ref name=soren/> The company also helps stabilizing prices for the products of medium and small-scale miners.<ref name=soren/> It has most of its offices and smelters and other industries in the northern half och Chile, from Rancagua to the Arica in the far north.<ref name=donde>{{Cite web |title=Dónde estamos |url=https://www.enami.cl/SobreENAMI/Pages/Donde-Estamos.aspx |access-date=2025-03-20 |website=enami.cl |language=es}}</ref> South of Rancagua the only office of ENAMI lies in Concepción.<ref name=donde/>
Artisan miners known as ''pirquineros'' usually sell their output directly to ENAMI.<ref name=canada>{{Cite journal |title=Urban Symbiosis: A Study of Company Town Camp Followers in the Atacama Desert |journal=North-South Canadian Journal of Latin American Studies |last=Porteous |first=J. Douglas |volume=3 |issue=5-6 |pages=210–221 |year=1978 |quote=Once a truckload of ore is gathered, it is delivered to the government smelter at Paipote, or to middlemen. ln the Chuquicamata area, ore has been sold to the Empresa Nacional de Minera (ENAMI), a government agency.}}</ref> The number of small-scale miners in charge of a mining operation (each typically having a workforce of five to six miners), including pirquineros, registered at ENAMI has been in the span 2300 to 750 in the 2011–2021 period.<ref name=soren/> Thus, by one estimate in the 2000s to the 2020s in years of high mining activity up to 14,000 miners would have been employed in small-scale mining in Chile.<ref name=soren/> As of 2019 the number of small-scale miners working on copper mining was about twenty times larger than those working on other metals like gold or silver.<ref name=soren/>
ENAMI is considered a key component to fight illegal mining in Chile as it deprives organized crime from taking the role of being the main buyers of the products of small-scale miners as it happens in other Latin American countries.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Por qué necesitamos a ENAMI y su actual gobierno corporativo |last=Viera |first=Dominique |date=2025-03-19 |url=https://www.portalminero.com/wp/por-que-necesitamos-a-enami-y-su-actual-gobierno-corporativo/ |access-date=2025-03-21 |work=Portal Minero |language=es}}</ref>
A reform of the corporate governance of ENAMI was as of December 2025 up for discussion in the mining commission of the Chamber of Deputies of Chile.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Comisión de Minería respalda proyecto para modernizar Enami |last=Pizzoleo |first=Javiera |date=2025-12-22 |url=https://www.reporteminero.cl/noticia/noticias/2025/12/comision-mineria-respalda-proyecto-modernizar-enami |access-date=2025-12-23 |work=Reporte Minero & Energético |language=es}}</ref>
Some of the mineral processing of ENAMI is outsourced to Grupo Minero Las Cenizas.<ref>{{Cite news |title=ENAMI ofrece 450 mil toneladas de cobre por US$60 millones |date=2024-09-30 |url=https://chilepaisminero.com/enami-ofrece-450-mil-toneladas-de-cobre-por-us60-millones/ |access-date=2025-09-23 |work=Chile País Minero |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=ENAMI sale a vender stock de 45 mil toneladas de cobre que generara más de US$ 60 millones |date=2024-09-30 |url=https://revistacrisol.cl/enami-sale-a-vender-stock-de-45-mil-toneladas-de-cobre-que-generara-mas-de-us-60-millones/ |access-date=2025-09-23 |work=Revista Minera Crisol |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Enami sale a vender stock de 450 mil toneladas de cobre en Tocopilla: operación podría generar US$60 millones para la estatal |date=2024-09-27 |url=https://www.portalminero.com/wp/enami-sale-a-vender-stock-de-450-mil-toneladas-de-cobre-en-tocopilla-operacion-podria-generar-us60-millones-para-la-estatal/ |access-date=2025-09-23 |work=Portal Minero |language=es}}</ref>
==Assets== ENAMI owns 10% of the copper mine Carmen de Andacollo in which Teck Resources owns the remaining 90% of the shares.<ref name=conand>{{Cite web |title=Carmen de Andacollo |url=https://consejominero.cl/nosotros/mapa-minero/carmen-de-andacollo/ |website=Consejo Minero|access-date=2025-05-09|language=Spanish}}</ref>
In August 2025 ENAMI announced a partnership with Rio Tinto to carry out the lithium brine mining project Salares Altoandinos in Atacama Region.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Enami y Rio Tinto firman acuerdo estratégico para proyecto litio en Atacama |last=Mendoza |first=Sergio |date=2025-07-24 |url=https://www.redimin.cl/enami-y-rio-tinto-firman-acuerdo-estrategico-para-proyecto-litio-en-atacama/ |access-date=2025-08-04 |work=Redimin |language=es}}</ref>
The underground copper mine of Esperanza near Diego de Almagro is owned by ENAMI.<ref name=biob>{{Cite news |title=Enami abre las postulaciones para la venta o arriendo de la Mina Esperanza en la región de Atacama |last=López |first=Franco |date=2024-05-24 |url=https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/economia/negocios-y-empresas/2024/05/24/enami-abre-las-postulaciones-para-la-venta-o-arriendo-de-la-mina-esperanza-en-la-region-de-atacama.shtml |access-date=2025-08-27 |work=Radio Bío-Bío |language=es}}</ref><ref name=later>{{Cite news |title=Enami recibe más de 50 interesados en licitación para vender o arrendar mina Esperanza en Atacama |last=Guillou |first=Víctor |date=2024-06-13 |url=https://www.latercera.com/pulso-pm/noticia/enami-recibe-mas-de-50-interesados-en-licitacion-para-vender-o-arrendar-mina-esperanza-en-atacama/66WHHHHRHJEFRAL7XV2ULPEWFU/ |access-date=2025-08-27 |work=La Tercera |language=es}}</ref> The mine was put on tender for rental or purchase in 2023 and again in 2024.<ref name=biob/><ref name=later/>
The porphyry copper prospect of Catedral, 25 km southeast of El Teniente.<ref name=enam>{{Cite report |title=Catedral |year=2019|access-date=2025-12-12 |url=https://www.enami.cl/Prospectos_Doc/Catedral.pdf |publisher=ENAMI |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Enami busca socio para desarrollar mina de cobre a 25 kilómetros de El Teniente |last=La Tercera |date=2017-03-06 |url=https://www.nuevamineria.com/revista/enami-busca-socio-para-desarrollar-mina-de-cobre-a-25-kilometros-de-el-teniente/ |access-date=2025-12-17 |work=Revista Nueva Minería y Energía |language=es}}</ref>
===Smelters and mineral processing plants=== Planta Delta near the city Ovalle is owned and operated by ENAMI. It processes the ore from the adjacent Panulcillo copper mines and is a point of delivery for other small-scale miners in the region.<ref>{{Cite news |title=ENAMI potencia planta DELTA en Ovalle |date=2024-03-17 |url=https://laserenaonline.cl/2024/03/17/enami-potencia-planta-delta-en-ovalle/ |access-date=2025-07-27 |work=La Serena Online |language=es}}</ref>
The custom copper smelter Fundición Paipote next to Copiapó is owned ENAMI. It has been paralyzed since February 2024 for a major overhaul.<ref name=minyfut>{{Cite news |title=ENAMI cierra 2024 con utilidades y proyecta un 2025 con resultados positivos |date=2025-02-06 |url=https://www.mineriayfuturo.cl/noticias/enami-cierra-2024-con-utilidades-y-proyecta-un-2025-con-resultados-positivos/ |access-date=2025-03-17 |work=Minería y Futuro |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Fin de una era: Fundición Paipote de Enami produjo los últimos ánodos de cobre de sus 72 años de vida |last=Ibarra |first=Valeria |url=https://www.df.cl/empresas/mineria/fin-de-una-era-fundicion-paipote-de-enami-produjo-los-ultimos-anodos-de |work=Diario Financiero |language=es|date=2024-02-13}}</ref> At the time of paralyzation the smelter generated economic losses for ENAMI.<ref name=minyfut/>
ENAMI owns Planta El Salado 20 km away from Esperanza mine in Chañaral Province.<ref name=biob>{{Cite news |title=Enami abre las postulaciones para la venta o arriendo de la Mina Esperanza en la región de Atacama |last=López |first=Franco |date=2024-05-24 |url=https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/economia/negocios-y-empresas/2024/05/24/enami-abre-las-postulaciones-para-la-venta-o-arriendo-de-la-mina-esperanza-en-la-region-de-atacama.shtml |access-date=2025-08-27 |work=Radio Bío-Bío |language=es}}</ref><ref>[https://www.df.cl/empresas/mineria/enami-reporta-que-planta-el-salado-esta-operando-al-80-tras-incidente-con ]</ref>
==Former assets== In 2024 ENAMI sold its 10% shares in Quebrada Blanca to state-owned Codelco.<ref name=codelco>{{Cite web |title=Codelco compra 10% de Quebrada Blanca |url=https://www.codelco.com/codelco-compra-10-de-quebrada-blanca |date=2024-09-05 |website=Codelco |language=es}}</ref><ref name=consejoqb>{{Cite web |title=Quebrada Blanca |url=https://consejominero.cl/nosotros/mapa-minero/quebrada-blanca/ |website=Consejo Minero|access-date=2025-05-09|language=Spanish}}</ref><ref name=diafin>{{Cite news |title=Enami vende su activo más valioso en US$ 520 millones a Codelco para pagar deudas: 10% de Quebrada Blanca |last=Ibarra |first=Valeria |date=2024-09-05 |url=https://www.df.cl/empresas/mineria/enami-aprueba-venta-de-10-de-quebrada-blanca-a-codelco |url-status= |access-date=2025-05-27 |work=Diario Financiero |language=es}}</ref> Prior to this sale Quebrada Blanca was ENAMI's main asset, and the sale was aimed to provide financial capital for the company and pay-off some of ENAMI's debts.<ref name=diafin/> The terms of the purchase were criticized by Sociedad Nacional de Minería as lacking transparency.<ref name=diafin/> Other critics also point out that shares were sold at prices below what private companies would have paid and that the sale is part of a pattern of empoverishment of ENAMI at the cost of benefitting Codelco.<ref name=diafin/>
ENAMI obtained the mine Altamira in southern Antofagasta Region from Codelco in 2005, it was later sold to Minera Pudahuel.
In the 1970s ENAMI owned the mine of El Inglés in the Chilean Coastal Range near Rancagua.{{fact|date=August 2025}}
In late 1977 ENAMI sold Los Bronces mine, then known as ''Disputada'', to Exxon for 93 million US$.<ref name=ciperbronce>{{Cite news |title=Las desconocidas operaciones de Anglo que bloquean el acceso de Codelco a la propiedad de Los Bronces |last=Ramos |first=Marcela |date=2011-12-02 |url=https://www.ciperchile.cl/2011/12/02/las-desconocidas-operaciones-de-anglo-que-bloquean-el-acceso-de-codelco-a-la-propiedad-de-los-bronces/ |access-date=2025-06-10 |work=Ciper |last2=Figueroa |first2=Juan Pablo |language=es}}</ref> Exxon later sold the mine to Anglo American plc for 1300 million US$ in 2002.<ref name=ciperbronce/><ref>{{Cite news |title=Disputada: De Exxon a Angloamerican |date=2011-10-13 |url=https://www.df.cl/empresas/disputada-de-exxon-a-angloamerican |access-date=2025-12-28 |work=Diario Financiero |language=es}}</ref>
ENAMI owned the copper smelter Fundición Ventanas in Valparaíso Region from its establishment in 1964 to 2005 when it was sold to Codelco.<ref name=codelcoventana>{{Cite web |title=La fundición Ventanas apaga sus hornos tras 58 años de historia |url=https://www.codelco.com/la-fundicion-ventanas-apaga-sus-hornos-tras-58-anos-de-historia |date=2023-05-31 |access-date=2025-06-11 |website=codelco.com |publisher=Codelco |language=es}}</ref> This smelter closed in 2023 due to environmental issues.<ref name=codelcoventana/><ref name=ToroMunita>{{Cite news |title=Cierre de fundición Ventanas: El intrincado debate por dónde instalar una nueva planta y los costos asociados |url=https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2022/06/24/1064886/codelco-ventanas-instalar-nueva-fundicion.html |last=Toro |first=Daniela |date=2022-06-25 |access-date=2022-06-26 |work=Emol |last2=Munita |first2=Ignacia |language=Spanish}}</ref>
In 1964 ENAMI became the main financier, through loans –and gained the direct ownership of 20%– of a new small mining mining company that sought to mine copper and gold from Cutter Cove near the Strait of Magellan.{{sfn|Millán|1996|p=166}} ENAMI then gained full ownership of the mine in 1970 but ore extraction that had just begun 1971 halted in 1974 as the mine went at loss.{{sfn|Millán|1996|p=167}} The ore concentrate produced in this period was transported north in ships of the Chilean Navy to the ENAMI smelter of Fundición Ventanas near Valparaíso.{{sfn|Millán|1996|p=167}} The unusually large loans in the 1960s to finance the emerging mining company caused surprise in Sociedad Nacional de Minería.{{sfn|Millán|1996|p=166}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==Bibliography== *{{Cite book |title=Evaluación y factibilidad de proyectos mineros |last=Millán |first=Augusto |publisher=Editorial Universitaria |year=1996 |isbn=956-11-1241-8 |pages= |language=es}} *{{cite book|last1=Ulloa Urrutia| first1=Alfie|last2=Contreras Biekert|first2=José Luis|last3=Gana Aravena|first3=Joaquín|last4=Miranda Toledo |first4=Rodrigo|last5=Chauveau Gerber|first5=Paul|first6=Fernando|last6=Villalobos Valenzuela|last7=Farías Soto|first7=Javiera|title=Productividad en la Gran Minería del Cobre|chapter=|year=2017 |pages= |publisher=Comisión Nacional de Productividad|language=Spanish|isbn=978-956-7725-08-3}}
Category:Mining companies of Chile Category:Companies based in Santiago, Chile Category:Government-owned companies of Chile Category:Non-renewable resource companies established in 1960 Category:Chilean companies established in 1960 Category:ENAMI Category:Mining law and governance in Chile Category:Mining companies established in the 20th century Category:Government-owned mining companies Category:Lithium mining companies of Chile