We Can Beat COVID-19 Together!

SQM has distributed health emergency kits and food, sanitized public spaces, donated medical supplies and organized educational activities, among other initiatives. The mining company implemented these actions in the communities located near its operations in the Tarapacá and Antofagasta regions as part of the four areas that frame its efforts to halt the spread of COVID-19.

SQM has identified healthcare, social wellbeing, economic reactivation, and education and healthy living as the four action areas that frame its community support plan to address the health emergency caused by COVID-19.

It has implemented various actions and initiatives in collaboration with social leaders, local officials and the partner organizations with which SQM has historically maintained a robust program of shared values, focusing on the communities and municipalities located close to its operations in the Antofagasta and Tarapacá regions.

In the area of healthcare, the mining company is focusing its efforts on the strengthening and response capacity of hospitals and healthcare units, providing medical supplies, personal protective equipment, rapid tests and ventilators. It is also sanitizing public spaces and distributing home cleaning kits.

In the social wellbeing area, SQM has developed a territorial effort, visiting towns such as Pozo Almonte, María Elena, Quillagua, Tocopilla, Toconao, San Pedro de Atacama and Río Grande to distribute basic food and other supplies and personal protection equipment. This support is mainly focused on higher-risk groups such as older adults and individuals with disabilities. The company also launched a prevention campaign, inviting the community to take steps to combat COVID-19.

Through the “El Puerto” co-working initiative, SQM has proposed an approach to generating economic reactivation for businesses that have seen sales decrease due to the health crisis. This alliance allows the company to support local and micro enterprises through competitive grants under the “Atrévete y Embárcate” (Dare and Set Sail) campaign and to leverage resources in collaboration with other private companies.

Finally, in the area of education and healthy living, the company is using technology to support distance learning through the Vilti Semann-UCN program and the Choshuenco educational foundation. It is also offering athletics and cultural courses online with Fundación Miradas Compartidas, allowing users across the country to access fun activities during quarantine.