On March 26, 2020, the Federation of Copper Workers sent former President Sebastián Piñera a list of names of leaders to join the Codelco board, among the 9 members of the instance, since he was about to expire the period of his previous representative.
“Together to greet you, on behalf of the Federation of Copper Workers (FTC), given the fact that our representative on the board of the National Copper Corporation of Chile is close to the end of his legal period, we send you the list of applicants that make up Quina in the terms required by article 8, letter b) law 20,392,” says the document. It also includes the names of Alberto Muñoz Sandoval, Aldo Binimelliz Binimelliz., Mario Lobos Vidal, Karina González Cáceres and Daniel Díaz Olguín.
According to the workers, they did not receive a response on the proposal, and to this day the position remains vacant. The same happens with another of the positions, which is chosen from a five proposed by the National Association of Copper Supervisors (Ansco) together with the Federation of Copper Supervisors (Fesuc).
The rest of the board of directors is made up of four representatives chosen by the President from a list delivered by the Senior Public Management, and three representatives appointed by the acting President or President. Currently acting as directors:
– Juan Enrique Morales Jaramillo, from May 11, 2019 to May 2023
– Isidoro Palma Penco, from May 11, 2019 to May 2023
– Patricia Núñez Figueroa, from May 11, 2021 to May 2025
– Pedro Pablo Errázuriz Domínguez, from May 11, 2021 to May 2025. Former Transport Minister of Sebastián Piñera
– Hernán de Solminihac Tampier, from May 11, 2018 to May 2022, former Mining Minister of Sebastián Piñera
– Felipe Larraín Bascuñán, from March 30, 2021 to May 2022, former Minister of Finance of Sebastián Piñera
The problem arose with the early resignation of none other than Codelco’s board chairman, a post that is still vacant. On March 10 of this year, two months after completing his management period, Juan Benavides Feliú presented his resignation from the Codelco board of directors, which became effective as of March 11, the day on which the change of directors took place. command.
According to Codelco’s Corporate Governance Code, “The Board of Directors may meet with the assistance of at least seven of its members”, which in the current conditions will not be able to happen. This creates a problem that leaves the government of President Gabriel Boric against the clock, since the board expects to meet on March 31, something that could be suspended if the President fails to fill at least one of the 3 vacant seats. That could delay investments and decisions of the state copper company in the short and medium term.
