Chilean government launches National Critical Minerals Strategy

On January 27, 2026, Chile’s Ministry of Mining published its National Critical Minerals Strategy (Strategy) following a participative process that included a public consultation. The Strategy signals a major step forward in the country’s approach to the growing global demand for critical minerals, setting in place the public policy framework that will guide future critical minerals projects in Chile.

In this alert, we provide a summary of the Strategy, highlighting key definitions and areas of focus.

Definition of critical minerals under the National Critical Minerals Strategy

The Strategy follows a flexible and adaptative approach to the definition of critical minerals. A “critical mineral” is any mineral of which Chile holds – on a consolidated or potential basis – a significant share of global supply, and which has either been labeled as critical by relevant economies or otherwise constitutes a strategic opportunity for the country’s sustainable development.

From this definition, the Strategy divides critical minerals into three groups:

1. Minerals of which Chile holds a significant share of the global supply, and which have been labeled as critical by relevant economies (e.g., copper, lithium, molybdenum, and rhenium).


2. Minerals of which Chile holds a potential significant share of the global supply, and which have been labeled as critical by relevant economies (e.g., cobalt, rare earths, antimony, selenium, and tellurium).


3. Minerals that represent a strategic opportunity for the country, together with Chile holding, either on a consolidated or prospective basis, a significant share of the global supply (e.g., gold, silver, iron, boron, and iodine).

Pillars of the National Critical Minerals Strategy

The Strategy lays out and is guided by five core pillars:

1. Production and diversification of critical minerals: This pillar aims to advance Chile’s position as a reliable supplier of critical minerals. It comprises three objectives:


• Promoting the development of new projects through investment incentives, the development of an efficient permitting system, and the adoption of Chilean sustainability taxonomy to streamline and promote regulatory stability.


• Strengthening geological data for the exploration of critical minerals and reducing gaps in information through the modernization of systems and records within the National Geology and Mining Service.


• Advancing the identification and recovery of critical minerals through a circular economy.


2. Responsible mining: This aims to strengthen the position of Chile as a responsible supplier of critical minerals, as well as promote high environmental, social, and governance standards that contribute to territorial development and industry credibility. The objectives of this pillar are:


• Advancing environmental and social performance of mining activities and ensuring traceability and alignment with national and international commitments and standards.


• Ensuring safe and healthy labor conditions within the mining industry.


• Promoting the participation of residents of mining regions in the development of the industry and its externalities by encouraging dialogue, transparency, and agreements focused on preventing conflict.


3. Development opportunities based on critical minerals: This aims to foster value added activities and the development of industries related to critical minerals. The objectives of this pillar are:


• Promoting the development of technological and productive capabilities to generate critical minerals’ added value.


• Promoting productive chains and developing the local supply and manufacturing ecosystem.


4. International integration and diplomacy of critical minerals: This aims to promote strategic alliances and mutually beneficial partnerships. The objectives of this pillar are:


• Strategically positioning Chile within the global critical minerals landscape.


• Advancing alliances by and among national and international incumbents to further the development of technologies and to strengthen the resilience and sustainability of critical minerals supply chains.


• Promoting the implementation of strategic bilateral and multilateral agreements that further Chile’s position as a reliable and responsible partner.


5. Enabling capacities for critical minerals: This aims to develop and enable institutional, technological, regulatory, human‑capital, and infrastructure capabilities required for the critical minerals sector. The objectives of this pillar are:


• Strengthening and modernizing governance and institutions related to critical minerals.


• Promoting the development of human capital around critical minerals and fostering specialized technical capabilities.


• Enabling infrastructure for the development of critical minerals investment projects.

Governance of the National Critical Minerals Strategy

The Strategy will be governed by the Ministry of Mining through an advisory council integrated with the Ministries of Finance, Economics, Foreign Affairs, Environment, and Science, as well as representatives of Chile’s regional governments, mining industry, academy, and public.

The advisory council will contribute to the implementation and update of an action plan defined by each administration within this new framework, providing strategic recommendations based on priorities, risks, and implementation gaps and ensuring adequate coordination among incumbents.

For more information, please contact the authors.

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