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Relief efforts from Teck support neighbouring communities following natural disasters.
Coquimbo, a mountainous region north of Santiago, Chile, is a popular travel destination with its white-sand beaches and warm climate. With a growing tourism economy, traditional craft fairs in the city of Coquimbo have become a popular outlet for local entrepreneurs to sell goods and expand their businesses.
But in September 2015, a magnitude 8.4 earthquake and subsequent tsunami severely damaged the north-central region of Chile, in particular the coastal areas around Coquimbo. Along with the devastating damage to the community, the local market was destroyed, leaving people without a place to sell their goods and support themselves or their families.
As part of our commitment to helping build healthy, vibrant communities in the areas where we operate, Carmen de Andacollo (CDA) Operations, located near Coquimbo, stepped in to help after the earthquake. To assist entrepreneurs in recovering their source of employment, Teck donated US$500,000 towards a reconstruction campaign organized by the foundation Desafío Levantemos Chile. The funds went towards reconstructing the market infrastructure, which directly benefited 84 people and their families.
The reconstruction project also involved both governmental and social organizations. Public roads were rebuilt, street lights re-erected, gutter systems installed and other facilities reconstructed. Training programs in business management were offered for the community, with the goal of aiding entrepreneurs in rebuilding their businesses and strengthening the local economy.
In 2017, these local entrepreneurs are now back in Coquimbo with a renewed market for their businesses.
“As members of the community, we wanted to help those affected by this disaster,” said Manuel Novoa, General Manager, CDA. “We hope that our support will allow people in the Coquimbo Region to regain employment and revive this prosperous tourist site.”
This story was first published in Teck’s 2016 Economic Contributions Report, a new report that provides detailed information about the economic benefits generated by our activities, including payments to suppliers, employee wages and benefits, and payments to governments.
The report is based on our belief that financial transparency can help stakeholders understand the economic benefits generated by our activities and how those benefits are distributed for local, regional and national economic and social development.
