Chile Mining Minister Juan Carlos Jobet said on Monday the country’s center-right government would oppose a bill to hike royalties on copper and lithium miners currently under consideration by lawmakers, blasting it as “unconstitutional.” The legislation, introduced by left-leaning lawmakers, is aimed at raising funds they say are urgently needed to help underwrite social programs and stimulus amid the coronavirus pandemic. The bill gained momentum as copper prices have soared this year. “Our government will not support that idea,” said Jobet at the annual CRU World Copper Conference and CESCO Week, calling the ... (full story)