New Chile Leader Faces Codelco Dilemma: Dividends or Debt Relief

Chilean President Jose Antonio Kast — Chilean President Jose Antonio Kast
Photographer: Raul Bravo/AFP/Getty Images

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By Carolina Gonzalez and James Attwood

April 27, 2026 at 12:00 PM UTC

Lea en español

Chile’s new right-wing leader faces a tough choice: continue using state-owned Codelco as a cash cow to bolster state coffers, or allow the copper giant to retain more profit so it can issue less debt.