The English company this year launched the “Inicia Mantenedoras” (Start Maintenance) program, which integrated 22 women into the Los Bronces maintenance team with permanent contracts.
The London-based mining company Anglo American launched its “2026 Inicia Mantenedoras” (Start Maintenance) program at the beginning of the year. The program promotes the incorporation of new female talent in areas such as mechanical and electrical maintenance, with the aim of moving towards a more diverse and inclusive mining industry.
Forty-five women participated in the program, which included two stages. The first provided technical and practical training in mechanical and electrical maintenance, in addition to supporting the development of the relational and communication skills fundamental for teamwork. Following an evaluation, the second stage involved joining the mine maintenance team at the Los Bronces operation, in order to gain on-site experience.
Of the initial total, 22 women then joined the Los Bronces maintenance team, starting their permanent contracts on June 1.
Carlos Espinoza, general manager of Los Bronces, explained, “the Inicia Program is a demonstration of the innovation and openness that defines us. Furthermore, it is not common for women to work in the area of maintenance, so this initiative shows that women can participate and develop in many areas of the mining production process. For that reason, these past months have been intense, with a high demand on time, and a focus on safety, training and teamwork. But we know that this is the way to build what we are looking for every day: a diverse, collaborative, respectful, safe and efficient environment.”
At the end of last July, Anglo American was recognized by the Federation of Chilean Industry (SOFOFA) as a pioneer company in the +Mujeres +Futuro (+Women +Future) program. The initiative promotes the incorporation of more women into technical-professional specialties and their subsequent job placement in industries that are strategic for the country.
The award recognized the company’s commitment to the program, where it has contributed to expanding training and development opportunities for students in technical-professional secondary education.
Claudia Ruíz-Tagle, executive director of the Anglo American Foundation, stated, «it is a privilege for us to be able to open spaces that help close the gaps for girls and young female students. We are proud to be part of this initiative, supporting them on their journey towards the industry of the future. At Anglo America, we have set out to reimagine mining in order to improve people’s lives. In this, female talent is fundamental to continue transforming the industry and making mining more innovative, sustainable and connected with local communities.”