In November 2003, Antofagasta plc (through a 100% owned subsidiary named Aguas de Antofagasta) was awarded a 30-year concession to operate the water rights and facilities in the Antofagasta Region previously controlled by ESSAN (a Chilean stated-owned company).
The concession consists of two businesses: one, an unregulated business supplying miners and other industrial users; and, the other, a regulated water business supplying domestic customers. The regulated water and wastewater business includes activities of production and distribution of potable water and the removal, treatment and final disposal of wastewater. The idle capacity of the catchment, intake and piping facilities is usable for the sale of raw water, especially to the mining industry.
