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Property, plant and equipment (Tables) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2020
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [abstract] |
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [text block] |
| 16.1 | Types of property, plant and equipment
Description of types of property, plant and equipment |  | As of December 31, 2020 |  |  | As of December 31, 2019 |
|  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |
Property, plant and equipment, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Land |  |  | 23,579 |  |  |  | 23,620 |
Buildings |  |  | 239,666 |  |  |  | 227,173 |
Other property, plant and equipment |  |  | 35,418 |  |  |  | 32,645 |
Transport equipment |  |  | 2,880 |  |  |  | 2,686 |
Supplies and accessories |  |  | 4,183 |  |  |  | 4,579 |
Office equipment |  |  | 459 |  |  |  | 420 |
Network and communication equipment |  |  | 1,272 |  |  |  | 663 |
Mining assets |  |  | 47,052 |  |  |  | 23,174 |
IT equipment |  |  | 4,083 |  |  |  | 4,359 |
Energy generating assets |  |  | 4,878 |  |  |  | 5,998 |
Constructions in progress |  |  | 486,345 |  |  |  | 375,316 |
Machinery, plant and equipment |  |  | 887,504 |  |  |  | 869,273 |
Total |  |  | 1,737,319 |  |  |  | 1,569,906 |
Property, plant and equipment, gross |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Land |  |  | 23,579 |  |  |  | 23,620 |
Buildings |  |  | 705,089 |  |  |  | 666,027 |
Other property, plant and equipment |  |  | 234,238 |  |  |  | 257,247 |
Transport equipment |  |  | 13,030 |  |  |  | 12,143 |
Supplies and accessories |  |  | 26,101 |  |  |  | 25,531 |
Office equipment |  |  | 11,607 |  |  |  | 11,441 |
Network and communication equipment |  |  | 8,951 |  |  |  | 8,009 |
Mining assets |  |  | 194,562 |  |  |  | 161,619 |
IT equipment |  |  | 29,629 |  |  |  | 28,693 |
Energy generating assets |  |  | 38,540 |  |  |  | 38,495 |
Constructions in progress |  |  | 486,345 |  |  |  | 375,316 |
Machinery, plant and equipment |  |  | 3,304,061 |  |  |  | 3,142,461 |
Total |  |  | 5,075,732 |  |  |  | 4,750,602 |
Accumulated depreciation and value impairment of property, plant and equipment, total |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Accumulated depreciation and impairment of buildings |  |  | (465,423 | ) |  |  | (438,854 | )
Accumulated depreciation and impairment of other property, plant and equipment |  |  | (198,820 | ) |  |  | (224,602 | )
Accumulated depreciation and impairment of transport equipment |  |  | (10,150 | ) |  |  | (9,457 | )
Accumulated depreciation and impairment of supplies and accessories |  |  | (21,918 | ) |  |  | (20,952 | )
Accumulated depreciation and impairment of office equipment |  |  | (11,148 | ) |  |  | (11,021 | )
Accumulated depreciation and impairment of network and communication equipment |  |  | (7,679 | ) |  |  | (7,346 | )
Accumulated depreciation and impairment of mining assets |  |  | (147,510 | ) |  |  | (138,445 | )
Accumulated depreciation and impairment of IT equipment |  |  | (25,546 | ) |  |  | (24,334 | )
Accumulated depreciation and impairment of energy generating assets |  |  | (33,662 | ) |  |  | (32,497 | )
Accumulated depreciation and impairment of machinery, plant and equipment |  |  | (2,416,557 | ) |  |  | (2,273,188 | )
Total |  |  | (3,338,413 | ) |  |  | (3,180,696 | )
Description of classes of property, plant and equipment |  | As of December 31, 2020 |  |  | As of December 31, 2019 |
|  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |
Property, plant and equipment, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Pumps |  |  | 28,184 |  |  |  | 32,525 |
Conveyor Belt |  |  | 20,117 |  |  |  | 21,911 |
Crystallizer |  |  | 22,145 |  |  |  | 24,102 |
Plant Equipment |  |  | 173,335 |  |  |  | 170,263 |
Tanks |  |  | 15,367 |  |  |  | 14,159 |
Filter |  |  | 35,553 |  |  |  | 27,080 |
Electrical equipment/facilities |  |  | 93,937 |  |  |  | 92,090 |
Other Property, Plant & Equipment |  |  | 49,930 |  |  |  | 53,409 |
Site Closure |  |  | 36,828 |  |  |  | 12,056 |
Piping |  |  | 102,578 |  |  |  | 96,402 |
Well |  |  | 226,347 |  |  |  | 238,670 |
Pond |  |  | 41,906 |  |  |  | 41,319 |
Spare Parts (1) |  |  | 41,277 |  |  |  | 45,287 |
Total |  |  | 887.504 |  |  |  | 869,273 |
| (1) | Spare parts is presented net of provision. The reconciliation of the spare parts provision as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 is as follows:
Reconciliation |  | As of December 31, 2020 |  |  | As of December 31, 2019 |
|  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |
Opening balance |  |  | 39,265 |  |  |  | 32,414 |
Increase in provisions |  |  | 3,616 |  |  |  | 6,851 |
Closing balance |  |  | 42,881 |  |  |  | 39,265 |
Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in property, plant and equipment [Text Block] |
| 16.2 | Conciliation of changes in property, plant and equipment by type:
Reconciliation of changes in property, plant and equipment by class as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019:
Reconciliation of changes in property, plant and equipment by class as of December 31, 2020, gross amount |  | Land |  |  | Buildings |  |  | Other property, plant and equipment |  |  | Transport equipment |  |  | Supplies and accessories |  |  | Equipment office |  |  | Network and communication equipment |  |  | Mining assets |  |  | IT equipment |  |  | Energy generating assets |  |  | Assets under construction |  |  | Machinery, plant and equipment |  |  | Property, plant and equipment |
|  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |
Opening balance |  |  | 23,620 |  |  |  | 666,027 |  |  |  | 257,247 |  |  |  | 12,143 |  |  |  | 25,531 |  |  |  | 11,441 |  |  |  | 8,009 |  |  |  | 161,619 |  |  |  | 28,693 |  |  |  | 38,495 |  |  |  | 375,316 |  |  |  | 3,142,461 |  |  |  | 4,750,602 |
Additions |  |  | - |  |  |  | 838 |  |  |  | 278 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 82 |  |  |  | 33 |  |  |  | 386 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 429 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 319,192 |  |  |  | 987 |  |  |  | 322,225 |
Disposals |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | (33,048 | ) |  |  | - |  |  |  | (1 | ) |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | (149 | ) |  |  | (33,198 | )
Increase (decrease) in foreign currency translation difference |  |  | 22 |  |  |  | 49 |  |  |  | 2 |  |  |  | 1 |  |  |  | 5 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 12 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 53 |  |  |  | 144 |
Reclassifications |  |  | - |  |  |  | 32,179 |  |  |  | 9,940 |  |  |  | 886 |  |  |  | 488 |  |  |  | 133 |  |  |  | 558 |  |  |  | 32,943 |  |  |  | 548 |  |  |  | 45 |  |  |  | (203,412 | ) |  |  | 125,692 |  |  |  | - |
Other increases (decreases) |  |  | (27 | ) |  |  | 5,996 |  |  |  | (181 | ) |  |  | - |  |  |  | (4 | ) |  |  | - |  |  |  | (2 | ) |  |  | - |  |  |  | (53 | ) |  |  | - |  |  |  | (4,751 | ) |  |  | 35,017 |  |  |  | 35,995 |
Decreases for classification as held for sale |  |  | (36 | ) |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | (36 | )
Total changes |  |  | (41 | ) |  |  | 39,062 |  |  |  | (23,009 | ) |  |  | 887 |  |  |  | 570 |  |  |  | 166 |  |  |  | 942 |  |  |  | 32,943 |  |  |  | 936 |  |  |  | 45 |  |  |  | 111,029 |  |  |  | 161,600 |  |  |  | 325,130 |
Closing balance |  |  | 23,579 |  |  |  | 705,089 |  |  |  | 234,238 |  |  |  | 13,030 |  |  |  | 26,101 |  |  |  | 11,607 |  |  |  | 8,951 |  |  |  | 194,562 |  |  |  | 29,629 |  |  |  | 38,540 |  |  |  | 486,345 |  |  |  | 3,304,061 |  |  |  | 5,075,732 |
Reconciliation of changes in property, plant and equipment by class as of December 31, 2020, accumulated depreciation |  | Land |  |  | Buildings |  |  | Other property, plant and equipment |  |  | Transport equipment |  |  | Supplies and accessories |  |  | Equipment office |  |  | Network and communication equipment |  |  | Mining assets |  |  | IT equipment |  |  | Energy generating assets |  |  | Assets under construction |  |  | Machinery, plant and equipment |  |  | Property, plant and equipment |
|  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |
Opening balance |  |  | - |  |  |  | (438,854 | ) |  |  | (224,602 | ) |  |  | (9,457 | ) |  |  | (20,952 | ) |  |  | (11,021 | ) |  |  | (7,346 | ) |  |  | (138,445 | ) |  |  | (24,334 | ) |  |  | (32,497 | ) |  |  | - |  |  |  | (2,273,188 | ) |  |  | (3,180,696 | )
Changes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disposals |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 33,048 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 1 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 148 |  |  |  | 33,197 |
Depreciation expense |  |  | - |  |  |  | (26,779 | ) |  |  | (7,284 | ) |  |  | (692 | ) |  |  | (966 | ) |  |  | (126 | ) |  |  | (335 | ) |  |  | (9,065 | ) |  |  | (1,242 | ) |  |  | (1,165 | ) |  |  | - |  |  |  | (134,230 | ) |  |  | (181,884 | )
Impairment |  |  | - |  |  |  | (23 | ) |  |  | (21 | ) |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | (12 | ) |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | (9,507 | ) |  |  | (9,563 | )
Increase (decrease) in foreign currency translation difference |  |  | - |  |  |  | (20 | ) |  |  | (2 | ) |  |  | (1 | ) |  |  | (4 | ) |  |  | (1 | ) |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | (10 | ) |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | (28 | ) |  |  | (66 | )
Reclassifications |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |
Other increases (decreases) (1) |  |  | - |  |  |  | 253 |  |  |  | 41 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 3 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 2 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 52 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 248 |  |  |  | 599 |
Decreases for classification as held for sale |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |
Total changes |  |  | - |  |  |  | (26,569 | ) |  |  | 25,782 |  |  |  | (693 | ) |  |  | (966 | ) |  |  | (127 | ) |  |  | (333 | ) |  |  | (9,065 | ) |  |  | (1,212 | ) |  |  | (1,165 | ) |  |  | - |  |  |  | (143,369 | ) |  |  | (157,717 | )
Closing balance |  |  | - |  |  |  | (465,423 | ) |  |  | (198,820 | ) |  |  | (10,150 | ) |  |  | (21,918 | ) |  |  | (11,148 | ) |  |  | (7,679 | ) |  |  | (147,510 | ) |  |  | (25,546 | ) |  |  | (33,662 | ) |  |  | - |  |  |  | (2,416,557 | ) |  |  | (3,338,413 | )
Reconciliation of changes in property, plant and equipment by class as of December 31, 2020, net amount |  | Land |  |  | Buildings |  |  | Other property, plant and equipment |  |  | Transport equipment |  |  | Supplies and accessories |  |  | Equipment office |  |  | Network and communication equipment |  |  | Mining assets |  |  | IT equipment |  |  | Energy generating assets |  |  | Assets under construction |  |  | Machinery, plant and equipment |  |  | Property, plant and equipment |
|  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |
Opening balance |  |  | 23,620 |  |  |  | 227,173 |  |  |  | 32,645 |  |  |  | 2,686 |  |  |  | 4,579 |  |  |  | 420 |  |  |  | 663 |  |  |  | 23,174 |  |  |  | 4,359 |  |  |  | 5,998 |  |  |  | 375,316 |  |  |  | 869,273 |  |  |  | 1,569,906 |
Additions |  |  | - |  |  |  | 838 |  |  |  | 278 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 82 |  |  |  | 33 |  |  |  | 386 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 429 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 319,192 |  |  |  | 987 |  |  |  | 322,225 |
Disposals |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | (1 | ) |  |  | (1 | )
Depreciation expense |  |  | - |  |  |  | (26,779 | ) |  |  | (7,284 | ) |  |  | (692 | ) |  |  | (966 | ) |  |  | (126 | ) |  |  | (335 | ) |  |  | (9,065 | ) |  |  | (1,242 | ) |  |  | (1,165 | ) |  |  | - |  |  |  | (134,230 | ) |  |  | (181,884 | )
Deterioration |  |  | - |  |  |  | (23 | ) |  |  | (21 | ) |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | (12 | ) |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | (9,507 | ) |  |  | (9,563 | )
Increase (decrease) in foreign currency translation difference |  |  | 22 |  |  |  | 29 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 1 |  |  |  | (1 | ) |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 2 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 25 |  |  |  | 78 |
Reclassifications |  |  | - |  |  |  | 32,179 |  |  |  | 9,940 |  |  |  | 886 |  |  |  | 488 |  |  |  | 133 |  |  |  | 558 |  |  |  | 32,943 |  |  |  | 548 |  |  |  | 45 |  |  |  | (203,412 | ) |  |  | 125,692 |  |  |  | - |
Other increases (decreases) (1) |  |  | (27 | ) |  |  | 6,249 |  |  |  | (140 | ) |  |  | - |  |  |  | (1 | ) |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | (1 | ) |  |  | - |  |  |  | (4,751 | ) |  |  | 35,265 |  |  |  | 36,594 |
Decreases for classification as held for sale (2) |  |  | (36 | ) |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | (36 | )
Total changes |  |  | (41 | ) |  |  | 12,493 |  |  |  | 2,773 |  |  |  | 194 |  |  |  | (396 | ) |  |  | 39 |  |  |  | 609 |  |  |  | 23,878 |  |  |  | (276 | ) |  |  | (1,120 | ) |  |  | 111,029 |  |  |  | 18,231 |  |  |  | 167,413 |
Closing balance |  |  | 23,579 |  |  |  | 239,666 |  |  |  | 35,418 |  |  |  | 2,880 |  |  |  | 4,183 |  |  |  | 459 |  |  |  | 1,272 |  |  |  | 47,052 |  |  |  | 4,083 |  |  |  | 4,878 |  |  |  | 486,345 |  |  |  | 887,504 |  |  |  | 1,737,319 |
(1) The net balance of “Other Increases (Decreases)” corresponds to all those items that are reclassified to or from “Property, Plant and Equipment”, They can have the following origin: (i) work in progress which is expensed to profit or loss, forming part of operating costs or other expenses per function, as appropriate; (ii) the variation representing the purchase and use of materials and spare parts; (iii) projects corresponding mainly to exploration expenditures and ground studies that are reclassified to the item other non-current financial assets; (iv) software that is reclassified to “Intangibles (v) Provisions related to the investment plan and assets related to closing the site. (2) The Company classifies as non-current held for sale property, plant and equipment (disposal group) that, at the closing date of the financial statements, is subject to a commitment for sale or where the sales process has been initiated and where the sale is expected to occur within twelve months of that date, is classified by the Company as non-current assets held for sale. These assets or disposal groups are valued at the lower of carrying amount or the estimated sales value less the costs to sell and stop being amortized from the moment they are classified as non-current assets held for sale.
Reconciliation of changes in property, plant and equipment by class as of December 31, 2019, gross amount |  | Land |  |  | Buildings |  |  | Other property, plant and equipment |  |  | Transport equipment |  |  | Supplies and accessories |  |  | Equipment office |  |  | Network and communication equipment |  |  | Mining assets |  |  | IT equipment |  |  | Energy generating assets |  |  | Assets under construction |  |  | Machinery, plant and equipment |  |  | Property, plant and equipment |
|  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ $ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |
Opening balance |  |  | 24,695 |  |  |  | 648,719 |  |  |  | 245,731 |  |  |  | 11,668 |  |  |  | 24,456 |  |  |  | 11,377 |  |  |  | 7,505 |  |  |  | 132,309 |  |  |  | 29,955 |  |  |  | 36,930 |  |  |  | 207,830 |  |  |  | 3,068,862 |  |  |  | 4,450,037 |
Additions |  |  | - |  |  |  | 290 |  |  |  | 332 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 37 |  |  |  | 43 |  |  |  | 159 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 492 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 314,236 |  |  |  | 6,077 |  |  |  | 321,666 |
Disposals |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | (858 | ) |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | (3 | ) |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | (17 | ) |  |  | (878 | )
Increase (decrease) in foreign currency translation difference |  |  | (35 | ) |  |  | (72 | ) |  |  | (4 | ) |  |  | (2 | ) |  |  | (9 | ) |  |  | (3 | ) |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | (6 | ) |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | (72 | ) |  |  | (203 | )
Reclassifications |  |  | 132 |  |  |  | 18,526 |  |  |  | 12,456 |  |  |  | 477 |  |  |  | 745 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 89 |  |  |  | 16,901 |  |  |  | 1,289 |  |  |  | 1,565 |  |  |  | (140,104 | ) |  |  | 88,088 |  |  |  | 164 |
Other increases (decreases) |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | (410 | ) |  |  | - |  |  |  | 302 |  |  |  | 24 |  |  |  | 256 |  |  |  | 12,409 |  |  |  | (3,034 | ) |  |  | - |  |  |  | (6,646 | ) |  |  | (20,477 | ) |  |  | (17,576 | )
Decreases for classification as held for sale |  |  | (1,172 | ) |  |  | (1,436 | ) |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | (2,608 | )
Total changes |  |  | (1,075 | ) |  |  | 17,308 |  |  |  | 11,516 |  |  |  | 475 |  |  |  | 1,075 |  |  |  | 64 |  |  |  | 504 |  |  |  | 29,310 |  |  |  | (1,262 | ) |  |  | 1,565 |  |  |  | 167,486 |  |  |  | 73,599 |  |  |  | 300,565 |
Closing balance |  |  | 23,620 |  |  |  | 666,027 |  |  |  | 257,247 |  |  |  | 12,143 |  |  |  | 25,531 |  |  |  | 11,441 |  |  |  | 8,009 |  |  |  | 161,619 |  |  |  | 28,693 |  |  |  | 38,495 |  |  |  | 375,316 |  |  |  | 3,142,461 |  |  |  | 4,750,602 |
Reconciliation of changes in property, plant and equipment by class as of December 31, 2019, accumulated depreciation |  | Land |  |  | Buildings |  |  | Other property, plant and equipment |  |  | Transport equipment |  |  | Supplies and accessories |  |  | Equipment office |  |  | Network and communication equipment |  |  | Mining assets |  |  | IT equipment |  |  | Energy generating assets |  |  | Assets under construction |  |  | Machinery, plant and equipment |  |  | Property, plant and equipment |
|  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |
Opening balance |  |  | - |  |  |  | (409,911 | ) |  |  | (217,556 | ) |  |  | (8,776 | ) |  |  | (19,734 | ) |  |  | (10,864 | ) |  |  | (6,813 | ) |  |  | (120,808 | ) |  |  | (24,975 | ) |  |  | (30,813 | ) |  |  | - |  |  |  | (2,144,964 | ) |  |  | (2,995,214 | )
Changes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disposals |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 858 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 1 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 859 |
Depreciation expense |  |  | - |  |  |  | (29,000 | ) |  |  | (8,013 | ) |  |  | (683 | ) |  |  | (1,144 | ) |  |  | (161 | ) |  |  | (426 | ) |  |  | (7,033 | ) |  |  | (1,158 | ) |  |  | (1,676 | ) |  |  | - |  |  |  | (138,999 | ) |  |  | (188,293 | )
Impairment |  |  | - |  |  |  | (49 | ) |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | (49 | )
Increase (decrease) in foreign currency translation difference |  |  | - |  |  |  | 28 |  |  |  | 3 |  |  |  | 1 |  |  |  | 7 |  |  |  | 1 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 5 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 34 |  |  |  | 79 |
Reclassifications |  |  | - |  |  |  | 7 |  |  |  | (6 | ) |  |  | 1 |  |  |  | 6 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 1 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | (5 | ) |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | (207 | ) |  |  | (203 | )
Other increases (decreases) (1) |  |  | - |  |  |  | (209 | ) |  |  | 112 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | (87 | ) |  |  | 3 |  |  |  | (108 | ) |  |  | (10,604 | ) |  |  | 1,798 |  |  |  | (8 | ) |  |  | - |  |  |  | 10,948 |  |  |  | 1,845 |
Decreases for classification as held for sale |  |  | - |  |  |  | 280 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 280 |
Total changes |  |  | - |  |  |  | (28,943 | ) |  |  | (7,046 | ) |  |  | (681 | ) |  |  | (1,218 | ) |  |  | (157 | ) |  |  | (533 | ) |  |  | (17,637 | ) |  |  | 641 |  |  |  | (1,684 | ) |  |  | - |  |  |  | (128,224 | ) |  |  | (185,482 | )
Closing balance |  |  | - |  |  |  | (438,854 | ) |  |  | (224,602 | ) |  |  | (9,457 | ) |  |  | (20,952 | ) |  |  | (11,021 | ) |  |  | (7,346 | ) |  |  | (138,445 | ) |  |  | (24,334 | ) |  |  | (32,497 | ) |  |  | - |  |  |  | (2,273,188 | ) |  |  | (3,180,696 | )
Reconciliation of changes in property, plant and equipment by class as of December 31, 2019, net amount |  | Land |  |  | Buildings |  |  | Other property, plant and equipment |  |  | Transport equipment |  |  | Supplies and accessories |  |  | Equipment office |  |  | Network and communication equipment |  |  | Mining assets |  |  | IT equipment |  |  | Energy generating assets |  |  | Assets under construction |  |  | Machinery, plant and equipment |  |  | Property, plant and equipment |
|  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |
Opening balance |  |  | 24,695 |  |  |  | 238,808 |  |  |  | 28,175 |  |  |  | 2,892 |  |  |  | 4,722 |  |  |  | 513 |  |  |  | 692 |  |  |  | 11,501 |  |  |  | 4,980 |  |  |  | 6,117 |  |  |  | 207,830 |  |  |  | 923,898 |  |  |  | 1,454,823 |
Additions |  |  | - |  |  |  | 290 |  |  |  | 332 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 37 |  |  |  | 43 |  |  |  | 159 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 492 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 314,236 |  |  |  | 6,077 |  |  |  | 321,666 |
Disposals |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | (2 | ) |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | (17 | ) |  |  | (19 | )
Depreciation expense |  |  | - |  |  |  | (29,000 | ) |  |  | (8,013 | ) |  |  | (683 | ) |  |  | (1,144 | ) |  |  | (161 | ) |  |  | (426 | ) |  |  | (7,033 | ) |  |  | (1,158 | ) |  |  | (1,676 | ) |  |  | - |  |  |  | (138,999 | ) |  |  | (188,293 | )
Impairment |  |  | - |  |  |  | (49 | ) |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | (49 | )
Increase (decrease) in foreign currency translation difference |  |  | (35 | ) |  |  | (44 | ) |  |  | (1 | ) |  |  | (1 | ) |  |  | (2 | ) |  |  | (2 | ) |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | (1 | ) |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | (38 | ) |  |  | (124 | )
Reclassifications |  |  | 132 |  |  |  | 18,533 |  |  |  | 12,450 |  |  |  | 478 |  |  |  | 751 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 90 |  |  |  | 16,901 |  |  |  | 1,284 |  |  |  | 1,565 |  |  |  | (140,104 | ) |  |  | 87,881 |  |  |  | (39 | )
Other increases (decreases) (1) |  |  | - |  |  |  | (209 | ) |  |  | (298 | ) |  |  | - |  |  |  | 215 |  |  |  | 27 |  |  |  | 148 |  |  |  | 1,805 |  |  |  | (1,236 | ) |  |  | (8 | ) |  |  | (6,646 | ) |  |  | (9,529 | ) |  |  | (15,731 | )
Decreases for classification as held for sale (2) |  |  | (1,172 | ) |  |  | (1,156 | ) |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | (2,328 | )
Total changes |  |  | (1,075 | ) |  |  | (11,635 | ) |  |  | 4,470 |  |  |  | (206 | ) |  |  | (143 | ) |  |  | (93 | ) |  |  | (29 | ) |  |  | 11,673 |  |  |  | (621 | ) |  |  | (119 | ) |  |  | 167,486 |  |  |  | (54,625 | ) |  |  | 115,083 |
Closing balance |  |  | 23,620 |  |  |  | 227,173 |  |  |  | 32,645 |  |  |  | 2,686 |  |  |  | 4,579 |  |  |  | 420 |  |  |  | 663 |  |  |  | 23,174 |  |  |  | 4,359 |  |  |  | 5,998 |  |  |  | 375,316 |  |  |  | 869,273 |  |  |  | 1,569,906 |
(1) The net balance of “Other increases (Decreases)” corresponds to all those items that are reclassified to or from property, plant and equipment, They can have the following origin: (i) work in progress which is expensed to profit or loss, forming part of operating costs or other expenses per function, as appropriate;, (ii) the variation representing the purchase and use of materials and spare parts; (iii) projects corresponding mainly to exploration expenditures and ground studies that are reclassified to the item other non-current financial assets; (iv) software that is reclassified to “Intangibles”, (v) Assets related to closing the site. (2) The Company classifies as non-current held for sale property, plant and equipment (disposal group) that, at the closing date of the financial statements, is subject to a commitment for sale or where the sales process has been initiated and where the sale is expected to occur within twelve months of that date, is classified by the Company as non-current assets held for sale. These assets or disposal groups are valued at the lower of carrying amount or the estimated sales value less the costs to sell and stop being amortized from the moment they are classified as non-current assets held for sale.
Disclosure of rates and costs for capitalized interest of property, plant and equipment [Text Block] |
Costs of capitalized interest |  | As of December 31, 2020 |  |  | As of December 31, 2019 |
|  | ThUS$ |  |  | ThUS$ |
Capitalized interest rate |  |  | 4 | % |  |  | 4 | %
Amount of costs for interest capitalized in ThUS$ |  |  | 8,462 |  |  |  | 7,841 |

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