Anglo American initiated an unprecedented plan to replace over 57,000 wood-burning stoves in the Metropolitan Region with non-polluting heaters
Published on Wednesday, 11 June 2025
- Harvard University, Usach, and Enel X will play vital roles in this initiative to improve the city's air quality.
Anglo American has committed to replacing 70% of the current wood-burning stoves in the Metropolitan Region through its Emissions Compensation Program linked to the Los Bronces Integrado (LBI) project. This effort aims to offset 150% of the particulate matter emissions generated by the project, surpassing the 120% mandated by environmental standards. Additionally, when combined with other measures, it is projected to produce around US$290 million each year in public health savings.
"We have made an unprecedented commitment to emissions offsetting, which reflects how Anglo American incorporates sustainability into the development of our projects as a central focus. The Los Bronces Integrated project is the result of more than ten years of scientific studies and was designed prioritizing sustainability over technical and economic criteria, avoiding impacts on glaciers, without using additional fresh water, and incorporating important measures for the conservation of flora and fauna," said Juan Pablo Schaeffer, Anglo American's Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability.
The mining company will not undertake this journey independently. It has established a strategic partnership with Enel X, a firm with considerable expertise in this kind of transition, which will manage the execution process.
One of our company's most successful recent initiatives is the program aimed at replacing wood-burning stoves with air conditioning units. This initiative has enabled us to significantly reduce polluting emissions, benefiting 28,000 households that can now access clean energy in their homes. We take pride in this new partnership with Anglo American, which will help us extend our outreach and further enhance our positive impact on both the environment and people's quality of life," stated Karla Zapata, general manager of Enel X.
In addition, two renowned academic institutions have joined the initiative. Anglo American has entered into a research agreement with Harvard University's T.H. Chan School of Public Health, particularly the Environmental Sciences Laboratory led by Dr. Petros Koutrakis, known for its extensive expertise and global recognition in environmental matters. This collaboration will focus on measuring air quality to highlight the anticipated improvements in reducing air pollutants in affected homes and the region. To accomplish this, laboratory experts will conduct a study that involves installing monitoring equipment, performing chemical analyses, and processing data before and after renovating. The University of Santiago, Chile (USACH) will provide logistical support to facilitate equipment installation in the country.
Recognizing the sources and pathways of air pollutants is crucial for safeguarding public health. The technologies and methods created in my laboratory focus on assessing human exposure and the effectiveness of interventions. By integrating our research into real-world programs like this, we will gain the insights and tools necessary to develop and assess solutions,” said Dr. Koutrakis from Harvard.
Dr. Rodrigo Vidal, rector of Usach, stated: "Our university is honored to be a part of this agreement, reinforcing our dedication to research and sustainability. This initiative tackles significant environmental issues like pollution and air quality in Santiago. It establishes our leadership in innovation and fosters scientific knowledge that enhances living conditions for people in our country. Additionally, it emphasizes the crucial role of collaboration between the private sector and international organizations in driving tangible solutions to today's pressing challenges."
Field implementation
The initiative commenced at a residence in the Colina municipality. A range of organizations have convened to set up measurement instruments that will allow Harvard and Usach to investigate the traceability of air quality improvements stemming from the extensive replacement of wood-burning stoves. According to the schedule sanctioned by the authorities, this commitment spans more than 57,000 households over seven years.
The initiative focuses on replacing residential wood-burning heaters with non-polluting climate control systems at no cost to homeowners. The outdated heaters will be discarded. This program seeks to lower emissions of respirable particulate matter, as wood burning is the leading source of pollution in the capital, especially in winter.
Jorge Cáceres, the director of the Environment and Energy Center at SOFOFA, highlighted that "this environmental management tool, now implemented in Santiago and other regions as part of air quality enhancement plans, takes cues from successful international practices and demonstrates how new investment projects can gain approval while improving the environmental conditions in their locations. In particular, the Los Bronces Integrado project aims to significantly reduce pollution in the Metropolitan Region, providing numerous benefits."
During the program's first year, the aim is to replace over 11,000 heaters, concentrating on the provinces of Chacabuco, Cordillera, Talagante, Melipilla, and Maipo. Nevertheless, anyone in the Metropolitan Region who has a wood-burning stove installed and in use can apply to participate in this replacement program. After applying, Enel X will perform a technical review to ensure the feasibility of each residence.
To ensure the effectiveness of emissions reduction, the replacement heaters must meet two key criteria: high energy efficiency and adequate cost-effectiveness. As a result, Split Inverter electrical devices were selected for their superior efficiency, quieter performance, and ability to save energy.
Other measures of the LBI Emissions Compensation Program
Replacing heaters is part of a broader set of measures, including a Management Plan for the Los Nogales Nature Sanctuary (SNLN).
The implementation of this plan, which covers 11,025 hectares, includes reforestation and restoration actions that will provide multiple benefits to the inhabitants of Santiago, such as temperature regulation, air purification, runoff mitigation, and biodiversity conservation.
The Los Bronces Integrated Project, estimated to cost US$3.3 billion, also encompasses extra air quality initiatives. These include paving local roads near Route G-21 and the access road to Los Bronces (G-245), vacuuming the streets, and substituting internal combustion buses with electric ones for worker transportation.
About Anglo American
Anglo American is a leading global mining company focused on responsibly producing copper, premium iron ore, and fertilizers. These products are essential for decarbonizing the global economy, enhancing the quality of life, and ensuring food security. Our world-class operations and exceptional mineral resources portfolio present growth and value creation potential across all three sectors, positioning us to capitalize on key structural growth trends in demand.
Our integrated approach to sustainability and innovation guides our decision-making across the value chain, from discovering untapped resources to extracting, processing, transporting, and marketing our products to our customers safely, efficiently, and responsibly. Our Sustainable Mining Plan commits us to ambitious goals over various time horizons to ensure that we contribute to a healthy environment, foster prosperous communities, and build trust as corporate leaders. We partner with our business associates and diverse stakeholders to unlock the lasting value of natural resources for our shareholders, benefiting the communities and countries in which we operate, and for society at large. Anglo American is re-imagining mining to improve people's lives.
Anglo American is undertaking substantial structural changes aimed at realizing the inherent value of its portfolio and speeding up the achievement of its strategic goals, which encompass operational excellence, simplifying the portfolio, and fostering growth. Following the completion of the sale of our steelmaking coal and nickel divisions, the spin-off of our PGMs segment (Anglo American Platinum), and the divestment of our renowned diamond business (De Beers), this portfolio transformation will sharpen Anglo American's focus on its high-quality resource base in copper, premium iron ore, and fertilizers.
