Winter Storm Disrupts Operations at Central Chile Copper Mines, Northern Operations Unaffected
A powerful winter storm has disrupted operations at several copper mines and ports in central Chile, prompting major miners including Codelco, Antofagasta and Anglo American to activate safety protocols in response to heavy rain, snowfall and strong winds.Codelco suspended surface activities at its Andina mine and halted ore shipments from the El Teniente open pit due to snowfall. Anglo American said it is closely monitoring weather conditions at Los Bronces and adjusting operations based on ongoing risk assessments, while Antofagasta has scaled back non-essential activities at its flagship Los Pelambres mine. Vessel movements at several ports in central Chile have also been restricted.
Major copper operations in northern Chile remain unaffected. BHP confirmed that all of its Chilean mines continue to operate normally. The storm is forecast to persist through the weekend, with rainfall, strong winds and Andean snowfall expected to ease after Sunday. Market participants continue to monitor the potential impact on global copper concentrate supply, particularly as Chile's copper production has already been constrained in recent years by declining ore grades and operational challenges. The storm has also resulted in three fatalities and caused localized power and water outages, while authorities are expected to release an assessment of damage to the agricultural sector.
