Chilean Presidential frontrunner Michelle Bachelet said on Friday she is mulling reforms of land and water-use rules, in the latest hint of what may be in store for the copper powerhouse's crucial mining and energy sectors.
Land-use plans need to be reformed to clarify where energy projects can be built and the country's dictatorship-era rules on water usage need to be reviewed, Bachelet said.
The centre-left candidate, poised to cruise to victory in next month's general election or a likely December runoff, has not yet provided the fine print of her keenly-awaited plans. But she put the spotlight on the need for a solid regulatory framework during a radio debate with eight other candidates vying for the presidency.
A land-use overhaul would likely be cheered by big industry, which supports clearer rules.
A nebulous regulatory framework has allowed environmental and social groups to take to court even energy projects that are already approved, putting in limbo billions of dollars of investment. Massive coal-fired plants and hydropower investments in pristine Patagonia are particularly unpopular.
While the economy of the world's No. 1 copper producer has roared on the back of a mining boom, Chile is now wrestling with how to distribute the spoils of the bonanza and protect its environment.
Bachelet also said she wants to review the Andean country's water rules, which are widely seen as favourable to the mining industry.
Source: Reuters
