JUAN OLGUÍN: CHILE MUST GO FROM A PRECARIOUS ECONOMY TO A SUSTANAIBLE, INTEGRATOR AND REPRESENTATIVE ONE.

In the wake of Chuquicamata´s underground mine opening, we talked to Juan Olguin, president of the Federation of Copper workers for a little over a year now, who on occasion of this historical event, wanted to share his thoughts about the mining industry and presented his view on what is needed for a more sustainable mining.

A new cycle begins in CODELCO. After 104 years of continuous operation, Chuquicamata inaugurated, past August 14th, the great mineral reserve mine located a little over a mile deep under the current deposit. A great milestone not only for the company but also for Chile and the entire world.

On occasion of this historical event for the copper industry, we talked to Juan Olguin, who has been working for over two decades in CODELCO and has been presiding for a little over a year the Federation of copper workers, and who in addition to celebrate this inauguration, took the opportunity to reflect about the copper industry.

“Indubitably, Chile is an extremely rich country in natural reserves. If we add to this that, in general, at least two of these reserves (copper and lithium) are elements that are in the fundamental base of electromobility and the shift of the energy matrix, we should be talking about the great opportunity our country has of developing socioeconomically. If we are able to capitalize this great opportunity, as never before, we could sustain and assure an industrial matrix in order to create well paid quality jobs and social benefits like health , education, pensions, to name a few” said Olguin, who has as a personal motto “The copper workers do care about Chile”.

¿According to your vision, what is the discussion that should take place amongst the opinion leaders to move towards a more sustainable, integrated and representative economy? 

We see with great concern the political world is succumbing to the immediacy of making superficial changes, without having a deep discussion where industrial policies are stablished that serves as a base of social changes that the country is expecting, breaking, once and for all, the current economic model that depends on other economies. This means generating industrialization from our own competitive advantage and developing opportunities as a consequence of the productive chain. Basically, stop being a precarious economy.

¿What kind of proposals should be promoted to solve the problems you pointed out? 

I’m convinced that more and better companies should be promoted, for more and better job opportunities; a sustainable industrialization, at the same time, industrial development that takes care of the environment, and finally promote new technologies, transformation and development, always considering social protection in front of global changes.

On a separate note ¿What is your opinion about the current changes the industry is experiencing like robotization, artificial intelligence, digital transformation: do you see it as a threat or as an opportunity? 

We see with great concern the changes that are being carried out. The robotization, artificial intelligence, and all of these transformations Will affect Jobs on different levels, understanding that the current labor matrix along with the economic model are not taking care of new jobs required. In this context, over the next presidential campaign, candidates must take care of the social and labor requirements for the next decade.