Chile's President Has Reshuffled His Cabinet And Appointed A New Mining Minister To Boost Copper Growth

Chilean President Gabriel Boric reshuffled his cabinet on Wednesday and appointed Aurora Williams as the new mining minister in a bid to boost Chile's mining revenues. Chile is the world's largest copper producer.
Williams will replace Hernando, who held the same position from 2014 to 2018. Williams previously served as mining minister under President Michelle Bachelet.
"I invite the ministers to consolidate our national lithium policy and to continue Chile's leadership in the global mining industry," Boric said at a ceremony. He highlighted the mining industry's role in reducing poverty and inequality.
"I hope this cabinet change takes place in a different political climate," he added. He called on political parties to renegotiate proposed tax and pension reforms.
The Chilean government announced a plan in April to tighten control over the country's vast lithium reserves, which are seen as key to Chile's transition away from fossil fuels. Since then, Chile's mining industry is undergoing a dramatic transformation.
Although his lithium reforms largely did not require legislative approval, lithium borate suffered major legislative defeats in Congress. The talks with private lithium miners will be led by state-owned miner Codelco.
Codelco's copper production has been falling for months and it has warned that production in 2023 will be lower than expected due to weather and operational issues.
Borici said he would submit a new bill to reform Chile's tax system, but would not stick to the original reforms that were rejected last March. The government also faces a fight to push through pension reforms, which Congress will vote on next month.
In his third cabinet reshuffle, he also appointed new ministers of Culture, Education, National Assets and Social Development.
The Social development ministry was previously headed by Giorgio Jackson, who resigned on Friday after members of his party were accused of involvement in a scandal involving the transfer of millions of dollars in public funds.
Jackson will be replaced by Javierla Toro, Chile's minister of National assets.
Nicolas Cataldo, who previously worked in the regional development department, will replace Marco Antonio Avila and oversee the education department, which is still suffering from the high number of school closures during the coronavirus pandemic.