Juan Carlos Jobet on Tuesday announced a new national mining blueprint that aims to increase the traceability of copper produced in Chile, slash water use and bolster diversity at mining companies.

President Laurentino Cortizo pledged that a new contract should provide more public benefit.

The miner has reached an early agreement with the five unions representing workers at its key El Teniente mine.

It wants mining firms in turn to ensure production from large mines is 100% traceable by 2030, and by 2050 for medium and small mines.

The royalty proposal passed by three votes to two in the committee and will now go to the senate floor for debate.

Between 1985 and 2020, the area of Brazil dedicated to mining grew more than sixfold to about half a million acres.

BHP recently struck a deal with Chilean workers at its massive Escondida mine.