Message from The Chairman of the Board
On behalf of the Board of Codelco, I would like to introduce the 2011 Sustainability Report. This edition entails for Codelco 13 years of uninterrupted and transparent information to the public, regarding the company’s economic performance and social and environmental impacts.
During 2011 we put a special emphasis on the advancement of our strategic objectives regarding sustainability. The implementation of the new Occupational Safety and Health Structural Project, which aims to close the gaps Codelco has in these areas, has been essential for generating changes in our management and achieving the lowest accident frequency rate in our history.
However, the transformation of our company is an arduous task. In 2011 we had to mourn the loss of four workers. This affects us deeply, but does not change our firm conviction to continue with our goal of zero fatal or serious accidents.
During 2011 environmental issues and social responsibility have also been a priority, this is why the Structural Project for Environment and Communities was begun.
New management standards were established for these areas, which were transversally applied to all operations. Regulatory compliance was strengthened so as to increase performance levels in the Environment area and ensure the license to operate in the communities where our operations are located.
The two structural projects respond to Management’s decision to address sustainability with a new outlook. We are committed to bringing us up to date on these matters and installing a new culture that will enable us to project ourselves into the future, responding to new values and environmental and social requirements, both external and those which we have set for ourselves in our Value Statement and our Sustainable Development Policy that guide the company’s work.
We are fully committed to Codelco’s leadership in the national and global mining industry, to contribute to the progress of Chile. We shall continue to work with enthusiasm and excellence, adhering to the highest safety standards, giving careful consideration to sustainability, and maximizing the profit we generate for our owner, the State of Chile.
Gerardo Jofré M.
Chairman of the Board