Heavy Rain and Snowfall Trigger Emergency Measures at Multiple Copper Mines in Chile
Recently, heavy rainfall and high-altitude snowfall hit central Chile and the Atacama region, prompting multiple copper mines to initiate winter emergency measures.
Los Pelambres, owned by Antofagasta Minerals, temporarily restricted access to the mine site and preemptively scaled back non-critical operations, though no full production suspension has been reported so far. Andina, operated by Codelco, suspended surface operations, while El Teniente halted open-pit ore transport at one point due to hillside snow accumulation.
Among these, Caserones was the most significantly affected. Lundin Mining stated that the mine has been suspended since July 18 due to heavy snow, restricted road access, and an on-site power outage. It is currently relying solely on backup generators to sustain critical activities, and production will resume once power is restored and road access improves. As of July 24, the company had not yet issued a production resumption announcement, but Lundin Mining maintained its full-year production guidance.
Overall, this round of disruptions was concentrated in central Chile and some high-altitude mining areas. The major copper mines in the far north generally maintained operations, and a nationwide large-scale production halt has not materialized. In the near term, attention should continue to be paid to the timing of Caserones' production resumption and the progress in restoring road access and power at the mine site.
