Commodities reported that Chile wants to boost exploration at a time when rich deposits are increasingly hard to find in traditional mining districts but faces an uphill battle that will take years to bear fruit. Chile wants junior mining companies to list on its local stock exchange and better access local capital markets, following in the steps of Canada and Peru. Last month, the government also launched USD 90 million fund to promote mining exploration by small and mid size companies.

Still mining experts and some politicians say the government should do more to lure juniors, especially by freeing up land in the hands of big miners like state owned Codelco to boost exploration.

Mr Laurence Golborne mining minister of Chile said that the government plans more incentives for juniors like a review of the tax code but acknowledged changing exploration concession rules may be a lost battle.

Mr Golborne said that making changes in the concessions regime of Chile is not an easy thing to do. You have to deal with historical rights that people have.

(Sourced from www.commodities-now.com)