London 01/09/2016 - Chilean mining executive Diego Hernández has been elected president of the Chilean mining association Sonami (Sociedad Nacional de Minería) for the 2016-2019 period.
Sonami defends the interests of small, medium-sized and large mining companies in Chile and promotes Chile's mining sector globally, while regularly producing forecasts on the country's production and reserves.
Hernández retired in April from his post of chief executive of Chilean private mining company Antofagasta plc after three-and-a-half years, although he remains on the board as an advisor.
He was CEO of state-owned miner Codelco, the world's largest copper producer, between 2010 and 2012, having worked for six years as president of base metals at mining giant BHP Billiton. A Paris-trained civil mining engineer, Hernández previously held executive positions at Vale, Collahuasi, Anglo American and Rio Tinto.
(Editing by Mark Shaw)