Chilean authorities are cracking down on water use by mines in the driest desert on earth, threatening future supply in the top copper-producing nation. Chile’s environmental agency, SMA, charged BHP Group’s Escondida for allegedly drawing more water than allowed which could result in the loss of its permit, closure or a fine. Just to the south, state-owned Codelco has suspended a planned expansion of its Salvador mine until it can resolve a suit filed by the State Defense Council against the project’s proposed use of water.