What Atacama Kozan does

S.C.M. Atacama Kozan is a privately held Chilean-Japanese mining partnership (Sociedad Contractual Minera) founded in 2000 and headquartered in Tierra Amarilla, Atacama region, Chile. It operates underground and open-pit copper mining operations integrated with processing facilities, including primary crushing, fine crushing, grinding (Molino Principal), concentration, and a Filtered Tailings Deposit (Depósito de Relaves Filtrados — DRF) located in the Paipote sector of Copiapó. The DRF recovers water for reuse in production and has driven a 54% reduction in fresh water consumption since implementation. The company operates as a B2B commodity producer, commercializing high-purity copper concentrate directly to global smelters and copper processing facilities through commercial agreements; concentrate pricing is benchmark-driven rather than publicly disclosed.

Atacama Kozan's value proposition centers on sustainable copper production, worker safety, and deep regional integration in the Atacama region. It holds environmental authorization RCA 109/2018 for operational continuity, reports that 99% of its workforce resides in the Atacama region, and has established partnerships with SONAMI, Minera Candelaria (mutual emergency protocol), Mutual de Seguridad, and multiple local educational institutions including a Dual Education Program with Liceo El Palomar. The company employs a B2B, sales-led go-to-market with no retail or consumer channels, and distributes its output through direct sales of copper concentrate to enterprise buyers globally. Leadership includes Gerente General Sensuke Arai, with functional heads across operations (José Gonzalez), administration (David Olivares Guiroux), plant, mine division, electrical maintenance, and risk prevention.

Name

Atacama Kozan

Legal name

S.C.M. Atacama Kozan

Website

https://atacamakozan.cl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Atacama Kozan is a Chilean-Japanese copper mining partnership producing high-purity copper concentrate in Chile's Atacama region, selling directly to global smelters and emphasizing water-efficient operations and local workforce development.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Copper Mining

NAICS

Copper, Nickel, Lead, and Zinc Mining (212230)

SIC

Metal Mining (1000)

akta.pro primary industry

Copper Ore Mining (Open-Pit & Underground) (IMAKADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Copper Concentration (Crushing, Grinding, Flotation) (IMAKADAC), Copper Tailings, Waste & Water Management (IMAKADAL)

Keywords

• Copper concentrate production
• Underground copper mining
• Filtered tailings management
• Mining water recovery
• Sustainable copper mining

Headquarters

HQ city

Tierra Amarilla

HQ country

Chile

HQ region

Latin America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Copper Concentrate Sales: Production and commercialization of high-purity copper concentrate from mining operations in the Atacama region of Chile. Revenue generated through direct sales of copper concentrate to global copper market buyers.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

S.C.M. Atacama Kozan produces and commercializes high-purity copper concentrate from its integrated mining and processing operations in the Atacama region of Chile. The operation includes underground and open-pit mining, primary and fine crushing, a main grinding mill (Molino Principal), concentration processing, and an environmental Filtered Tailings Deposit (DRF) that supports water reuse in production.

Product overview

S.C.M. Atacama Kozan is a Chilean-Japanese mining partnership established in 2000, dedicated to the production and commercialization of high-purity copper concentrate. The company's integrated operations span from ore extraction in the mine to concentration processing, supported by environmental infrastructure including a Filtered Tailings Deposit (Depósito de Relaves Filtrados - DRF) that enables water recycling and reduced consumption. The operation includes multiple processing areas including primary crushing (Chancado Primario), fine crushing (Chancado Fino), concentration (Concentradora), and filtered tailings management (DRF).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• High-Purity Copper Concentrate

Quantifiable outcome

• 54% reduction in water consumption since DRF implementation
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SONAMI (Sociedad Nacional de Minería)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Atacama Kozan hosted a delegation from SONAMI's Environmental Affairs Committee including representatives from Kinross, SQM, and Antofagasta Minerals. The visit focused on sustainability initiatives and showcased the company's filtered tailings deposit technology. The visit was part of an extraordinary session held in Copiapó addressing water and energy challenges in mining.
• Universidad Santo TomásminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Visit by 48 first-year students from the Technical Mining and Metallurgy program who toured laboratory and plant operations to connect theory with practice.
• Mutual de Seguridad CChCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2024Atacama Kozan switched to Mutual de Seguridad as its Administrator Organism for Law 16.744 (Workplace Safety Insurance) effective April 1, 2024, focusing on continuous improvement in occupational safety and health.
• SONAMI (Sociedad Nacional de Minería)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023SONAMI president Jorge Riesco and technical manager Alejandro Vásquez visited Atacama Kozan as part of a regional tour to understand the company's challenges, processes, and development. The visit included tours of mine operations, plant, and filtered tailings deposit.
• Minera CandelariacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2022Mutual emergency support protocol signed between Atacama Kozan and Minera Candelaria. The protocol establishes evacuation routes at level 310 for worker safety in underground operations and enables collaboration on safety practices between the two mining operations.
• Universidad de Atacama (UDA)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2022Technical visits program for university students studying mining careers to tour operations and learn about industry practices.
• INACAP CopiapóminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2022Technical visits program allowing INACAP students to tour mining operations and learn about safety, occupational health, and environmental compliance standards.
• Colegio San Francisco de la SelvaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2022Collaboration agreement providing educational benefits and Kozan Scholarships for workers and their families at this private school in Copiapó.
• Liceo El PalomarcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Dual Education Program partnership where students alternate between school and mining operations to gain practical experience. The program is part of the Business Advisory Council (CAEMIN) led by Atacama Kozan's Administration Manager David Olivares Guiroux.
• SOMACORcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2021Contract mining services provider operating within Atacama Kozan facilities since 2021. SOMACOR provides conveyor belt supervision and other contracted services, recognized for excellence in safety and operational standards.
• Mesa Regional Tripartita de la SilicosisminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Regional tripartite table for silicosis eradication established in 2008, bringing together public services, mutuals, and private mining companies. Atacama Kozan participates through its Risk Prevention department.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Antofagasta Minerals: Chilean copper mining subsidiary of Antofagasta PLC, operating multiple copper mines in Chile producing copper concentrate. Directly comparable in product, geography, and customer base; also a participant in the same SONAMI environmental committee.
• Capstone Copper: Mid-cap copper producer with multiple Chilean operations producing copper concentrate. Closely comparable in business model (B2B copper concentrate sales to global smelters) and target market.
• Minera Candelaria (Lundin Mining): Neighbor copper mine in Tierra Amarilla, Atacama region, operated by Lundin Mining. Same geography, same copper concentrate product, and a formal mutual emergency agreement with Atacama Kozan—making it the most directly comparable peer.
• Mantos Copper: Chilean-focused copper producer with underground and open-pit mines producing copper concentrate. Closely comparable in scale, product mix, and customer base.
• Sociedad Punta del Cobre (Pucobre): Chilean mid-sized copper producer operating in the Atacama region, producing copper concentrate for global smelters. Comparable in scale and product.
• Codelco: Chilean state-owned copper miner and the world's largest copper producer. Operates multiple copper mines in Chile producing concentrate and cathodes, sharing the same regulatory and operational environment in northern Chile.

Regional players

• Kinross Gold: Canadian miner with Chilean operations (La Coipa and others) in the Atacama region. Comparable in regional footprint and stakeholder dynamics, though focused on gold rather than copper.
• Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile (SQM): Chilean mining company operating in the Atacama region producing lithium, iodine, and specialty chemicals. Comparable as a regional mining peer in the same SONAMI ecosystem, though producing different commodities.

Others

• Sociedad Nacional de Minería (SONAMI): Chilean mining industry association that engages with Atacama Kozan on environmental and sustainability topics. Not a competing operator but a key industry body that influences the regulatory environment in which the company operates.
• Enami (Empresa Nacional de Minería): Chilean state-owned mining company that processes and purchases ore/concentrate from small and mid-sized miners. Functions partly as an offtake and processing partner for smaller producers like Atacama Kozan.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Atacama Kozan