UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13A-16 OR 15D-16
OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Includes the free translation of the answer to Ordinary Forms 00427 and 00428
submitted by Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. to the Superintendencia
de Valores y Seguros de Chile on January 17 and January 18, 2005,
respectively.
SOCIEDAD QUIMICA Y MINERA DE CHILE S.A.
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
CHEMICAL AND MINING COMPANY OF CHILE INC.
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(Translation of registrant's name into English)
El Trovador 4285, Santiago, Chile (562) 425-2000
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(Address and phone number of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F x Form 40-F
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes No x .
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If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in
connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82
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SQM
SOCIEDAD QUIMICA Y MINERA DE CHILE S.A.
Santiago, January 17, 2005
Mr.
Alejandro Ferreiro Y.
Superintendent
Securities and Insurance Superintendence
Avda. Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins 1449
Santiago
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Dear Mr. Superintendent.
We have received your Ordinary Form Number 00427 dated January 14, 2005.
Regarding that Form and as requested by it, we may indicate the following:
1. On January 10, 2005, and as established in the "Environment
Law", SQM Salar S.A., an affiliate of Sociedad Quimica y Minera
de Chile S.A. ("SQM"), filed for its study before the COREMA of
the II Region an Environmental Impact Study titled "Changes and
Improvements of the Salar de Atacama Mining Operation Project"
("Project"). Said Project involves several changes and
improvements in the mentioned operation and include those
published by the "Estrategia" newspaper on January 13, 2005.
2. The future implementation of said Project will depend upon,
among other things, its approval by the COREMA of the II Region
and other relevant institutions, the mineral content of the
respective brines, market conditions and future technological
developments. The Project, if carried out, will involve an
approximate amount of US$234.2 million that will span a period
of 26 years, beginning in 2005, with an initial investment of
US$35 million for the years 2005 and 2006. This initial
investment is included in the "2004/2006 Capital Expenditure
Plan" referred to in the previously indicated Form, and that
will be financed with internally generated cash flows.
We remain at your disposal to clarify any additional aspects that you may
deem relevant in relation to the above.
Yours truly,
SOCIEDAD QUIMICA Y MINERA DE CHILE S.A.
CONF: /s/ PATRICIO CONTESSE G.
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PATRICIO CONTESSE G.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Cc: Santiago Stock Exchange
Brokers Stock Exchange
Electronic Stock Exchange
New York Stock Exchange
Securities and Exchange Commission
The Bank of New York
SQM
SOCIEDAD QUIMICA Y MINERA DE CHILE S.A.
Santiago, January 18, 2005
Mr.
Alejandro Ferreiro Y.
Superintendent
Securities and Insurance Superintendence
Avda. Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins 1449
Santiago
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Dear Mr. Superintendent.
We have received your Ordinary Form Number 00428 dated January 14, 2005.
Regarding that Form and updating what was exposed in the filings sent to you on
April 8 and May 12, 2004 -Essential Issue-, we may indicate the following:
1. SQM and Distrinor S.A. ("Distrinor") subscribed, on May 22,
2001, a Natural Gas Supply Contract, of a "fixed nature",
pursuant to which Distrinor, among other aspects, is required to
supply and sell to SQM -for a period of 10 years beginning on
June 1, 2001- all the natural gas the Company requires for "heat
generation" at its industrial facilities located in Chile's
Second Region and that the parties have estimated to be
approximately 3,850,000 million Btu per year.
Said contract is currently in effect, notwithstanding the
reductions in the natural gas supply that Distrinor implemented,
with SQM's consent, during some days of 2004 and that the latter
was able to overcome with a higher production cost by using
diesel as an alternative energy source.
2. The effects of any new reduction in the supply of natural gas
will depend on, among other things, the volume of the reduction,
its timing and the existence of industrial equipments that can
use diesel or fuel oil instead of natural gas. In that sense,
Distrinor has already informed SQM that there could be future
temporary reductions in the supply of natural gas. On the other
hand, SQM is in the period (summer) in which it has lower
requirements of natural gas and has carried out or is about to
carry out most of the necessary investments in its productive
systems to replace -as an alternative fuel- part of its natural
gas consumption with fuel oil and diesel. In fact, SQM's current
projections indicate that it will be able to meet its annual
production and sales programs.
The potential lower consumption of natural gas and the consequent
higher consumption of fuel oil and diesel will result in higher
production costs that at this time and with the current available
information is very hard to assess. SQM will, however, timely notify
this Superintendence and the market about the financial effects that
may arise as a consequence of any reduction in the natural gas supply
contracted with Distrinor. This, regardless of the actions that SQM may
exercise against Distrinor and third parties involved to request the
fulfillment of their contractual obligations and indemnifications
arising from the reduction in natural gas supply.
We remain at your disposal to clarify any additional aspects that you may
deem relevant in relation to the above.
Yours truly,
SOCIEDAD QUIMICA Y MINERA DE CHILE S.A.
CONF: /S/ PATRICIO CONTESSE G.
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PATRICIO CONTESSE G.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Cc: Santiago Stock Exchange
Brokers Stock Exchange
Electronic Stock Exchange
New York Stock Exchange
Securities and Exchange Commission
The Bank of New York
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
SOCIEDAD QUIMICA Y MINERA DE CHILE S.A.
Conf: /s/ Matias Astaburuaga
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Matias Astaburuaga
General Counsel
Date: January 19, 2005