El Alto mining project

El Alto is a gold mining project in the Andes of Alto del Carmen, Atacama Region, Chile.^[1] The project is being carried out by Barrick Gold. It has been described as a replacement for Pascua Lama, a mine which the Chilean courts ordered to be closed in 2018.^[2][3] On March 12, 2025 the project was submitted to the Environmental Assessment Service (Servicio de Evaluación Ambiental).^[2] Diario UChile has called the project "Pascua Lama 2.0", and noted that it has caused concern in the indigenous Diaguita community of Huasco Valley.^[4]

In March 2025 it was estimated that if the project was approved by the Environmental Assessment Service ground work could start in July 2026.^[1]