El Alto is a large gold mine project in the Andes of Alto del Carmen, Atacama Region, Chile. [1] The projects is being carried out by Barrick Gold and is thought as a "replacement" for the controversial Pascua Lama mine that was ordered to be closed by Chilean courts in 2018. [2] On March 12, 2025 the project was summited to the Environmental Assesment Service (Servicio de Evaluación Ambiental). [2] Diario UChile has called the project "Pascua Lama 2.0", and noted that it has caused concern in the indigenous Diaguita community of Huasco Valley. [3]
In March 2025 it was estimated that if the project was approved by the Environmental Evaluation Service ground work could start in July 2026. [1]