As part of our recent educational visit to the Huachipato Steel Plant, students from 3rd Grade Secondary A had the opportunity to meet Mario Ramírez, the company’s Environmental Manager. His testimony offered a unique and powerful insight into the challenges and responsibilities of protecting natural ecosystems within an industrial setting, especially during a period of profound change for the company.
Mr. Mario has worked at Huachipato for eight years, and over the last year he has taken on the complex task of leading the environmental transition following the suspension of steel operations.
“My role has shifted together with the company,” he explained. “We moved from a fully operational steelmaking stage to a suspension phase, but our environmental commitment has remained the same.”
Despite the shutdown of the plant in 2024, Mario emphasised that environmental obligations did not stop, in fact, many have intensified.
“Our mandate has always been to protect and monitor the environment,” he noted. “When operations stopped, we decided our starting point would be to maintain what we already had — and then go a little further.”
Today, Huachipato continues to carry out environmental monitoring, maintenance of ecological areas, and new initiatives focused on conservation. One of the most significant efforts is the reopening of guided visits to the company’s wetlands — a hidden natural sanctuary located within the industrial grounds.
He described a unique reality that few students had imagined before their visit:
“We have about 41 hectares of wetlands inside the industrial area. They coexist directly with the plant’s infrastructure — something you don’t see very often.”
These wetlands, which represent roughly 10% of Huachipato’s total industrial territory, are home to native flora and wildlife. Mario explained that decades of monitoring show that industry and biodiversity can live side by side when there is a strong commitment to environmental care.
“The studies we conduct show that industrial activity can coexist without damaging the ecosystem,” he said. “These wetlands have been preserved and protected over time, even with operations nearby.”
He also highlighted the contrast between these protected wetlands and others outside the plant’s boundaries.
“Some surrounding wetlands have not received the same level of care,” he shared. “Here, continuous monitoring helps us respond to the effects of climate change and environmental pressures.”
For our students, Mario’s words offered a new perspective on environmental responsibility, one grounded in real practice, not theory. His explanation helped them understand not only the environmental challenges of the past, but also the importance of preserving natural spaces during a time of industrial transformation.
We sincerely thank Mario Ramírez for his openness, his clarity, and his willingness to share his work with our community. His testimony revealed that even in moments of uncertainty, there are people working every day to protect the ecosystems that surround us.
Article written by members of the ICT workshop; article enhanced with AI
