SANTIAGO, (Reuters) – Chile’s environment regulator announced Thursday that it had issued a $8.2M fine to Escondida Mine, owned by BHP, for damages caused by water extraction from the Salar de Atacama saltflat.

Chile’s SMA environmental monitoring agency had brought charges against the biggest mine in the world. They claimed it exceeded the water extraction limit since 2005 and had now been able to extract three times more water than the 2018 limit.

“After processing penalty procedures, the SMA supported the charge made against mining company, showing irreparable environmental harm in Las Vegas De Tilopozo,” said the regulator in a statement.

BHP said that it had not violated its environment permit, and is currently evaluating other options.

“Escondida reaffirms that the amount it exceeded was authorized by the RCA Las Vegas de Tilopozo in 2001, as reported to authority each six months,” stated the company.

BHP also stated it has ceased extracting water high Andean wells from its operations in 2019. It now only uses desalinated waters.

The tension surrounding water use in Andean countries has led to regulators for lithium and copper miners, as well as lithium companies. Albemarle SQM and (NYSE:)