Chile’s mining boom is set to run and run as investors rush to cash in on sky-high prices for copper, gold and other minerals.

Speaking at a major industry conference in Canada last month, Chile’s Mining Minister Hernán de Solminihac estimated investment in the industry through 2020 at a staggering US$91 billion. But he warned new projects are increasingly under threat from a shortage of trained workers.

On October 18, 2010, just four days after Chile’s 33 miners had been hauled to safety amid astonishing scenes at the San José mine, President Sebastián Piñera made the following pledge during a visit to London: “We cannot guarantee that we will not have accidents in the future but we can guarantee one thing -- that we will do whatever is necessary to have a more secure mining industry in our country.”

Drugstores colluding to put up prices, dairies lying about the contents of their ice-cream and a department store tricking customers out of their money… over the last five years, cases like these involving consumer rights violations have become big news in Chile.

Farmacias coludidas para subir precios, empresas de productos lácteos mintiendo sobre los contenidos de sus helados y una cadena de tiendas por departamento estafando a sus clientes… en los últimos cinco años, casos como estos que implican violaciones a los derechos de los consumidores se han convertido en grandes noticias en Chile.