Chile’s National Environmental Commission (Conama) has granted Noranda, the Toronto-based metals and mining company, until November to answer questions about its plans to build one of the world’s biggest aluminum-export operations. Noranda’s Alumysa project calls for a vast aluminum plant, a port and three hydroelectric facilities to power the sprawling complex. With an estimated price tag of $2.75 billion, Alumysa would rank as the largest foreign-investment project in Chilean history. The complex would be built in the Puerto Aysén area just north of the central Patagonian city of Coyhaique, in Chile’s 11th Region. But plans for it have met with stiff resistance from local residents, the nation’s salmon farming industry, fly fishermen, national and international environmental groups, politicians and others. (See, “Plans... [Log in to read more]