Chile fines British-South African copper mine $4.5 million

Chilean authorities Tuesday fined mining giant Anglo American Sur $4.5 million dollars for violating environmental rules at its El Soldado copper mine.

They said the British-South African-owned mining company committed the violations in 2013.

"They were related to management of reforestation, wildlife, rain water, sterile dumps," among others issues, said a statement by the Superintendency of the Environment.

El Soldado, located 132 kilometers(82 miles) from Santiago, is one of five copper mines in Chile operated by Anglo American Sur, produced 53,894 tonnes of copper in 2012.

The company can appeal the fine.

Chile is the world's largest producer of copper, accounting for a third of total production.