CMP’S Minas El Romeral receives national safety excellence award

This week, the John T. Ryan National Safety Excellence Award ceremony was held for the workers at Minas El Romeral, part of Compañía Minera del Pacífico (CMP), recognizing their record of the lowest incident rates in Chile’s mining industry.

The award, presented by the National Mining Society (SONAMI), MSA Safety, and Sernageomin, reinforces CMP’s commitment to risk management through its business model, Risk Management in Processes (GRP), which was certified this year under the international standards ISO 9001 (quality), ISO 14001 (environment), and ISO 45001 (occupational health and safety).

“This award for Minas El Romeral, one of our historic operations in the Coquimbo Region and the first in the country fully managed by women, is based on our safety results over the past year. It is highly valued by everyone at CMP. Receiving it alongside our workers and contractors fills us with pride and energy for the future, reinforcing that our commitment to putting people at the center of decision-making is the right path to achieve our business objectives,” said Francisco Carvajal, CMP’s CEO.

He added that the GRP is a cross-functional business model involving people, processes, and assets, where proper planning is key. It enables the identification of hazards, risk evaluation, and implementation of controls to ensure flawless execution based on verification and learning.

From the perspective of workers, Silvia López, the first Heavy Equipment Operator at Minas El Romeral, stated: “Receiving this recognition is a tremendous honor for our operation, as it reflects the safety we create thanks to Risk Management in Processes (GRP). This award honors our business model and represents a team effort made possible by the discipline of each of us, who consider safety a core value.”

It is important to note that CMP’s Minas El Romeral, the awarded operation, has nearly 70 years of continuous activity and is an emblematic site for the region. It was established to ensure continuity in iron mining and has since become a key driver of local development through employment, educational programs, and community initiatives.

This historic legacy is now strengthened by safety indicators provided by Sernageomin as part of the award evaluation committee, based on three criteria for 2024 safety management: no fatalities, the lowest incident rates (both with and without lost time), and the integration of contractor companies. Tarcisio Nocetti, representative of the John T. Ryan Commission, explained: “Under these conditions, CMP’s Minas El Romeral operation emerged as the winner.”

Regional authorities also highlighted the significance of the milestone. Constanza Espinosa, Regional Minister of Mining, stated: “We are pleased to support CMP, and especially Minas El Romeral, in achieving such an important safety milestone with the John T. Ryan Award. It demonstrates that operational excellence can go hand in hand with respect for human life. We are delighted that this award stays here, as safety can be a hallmark of our region and country.”

Similarly, Monserrat Castro, Regional Minister of Labor and Social Welfare, emphasized: “This award is extremely meaningful, as it confirms the commitment of all workers and the company to safety. We are happy to witness this event and see their pride in this achievement. We hope it inspires continued progress toward even greater safety in all operations.”

For Compañía Minera del Pacífico, this recognition provides further motivation to continue building a different kind of mining: sustainable, inclusive, and committed to the safety of people and the development of the communities where it operates.