Chile constitutional assembly does not okay expanded state mining rights

FILE PHOTO: An aerial view of the brine pools and processing areas of the Soquimich lithium mine on the Atacama salt flat, the largest lithium deposit currently in production, in the Atacama desert of northern Chile, January 10, 2013. REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado

SANTIAGO (Reuters) - Chile's constitutional assembly passed articles expanding environmental rights on Saturday, but stopped short of approving a proposal to give the state exclusive mining rights over lithium, hydrocarbons and rare earth metals and majority ownership of copper mines.

Chile is the world's top copper producer and the article faced strong opposition from the country's mining industry. It needed a supermajority of 103 votes to be included into the draft constitution, but only got 66.