Codelco to produce less than thought at top mine: El Mercurio

Chile’s state copper miner Codelco said its biggest mine, El Teniente, will take longer to return to full production than originally forecast after a deadly tunnel collapse in July, according to El Mercurio.

This is due to the company’s caution in following safety protocols following the tunnel collapse that left six dead, the newspaper said, citing company chairman Máximo Pacheco.

The fall in production will probably exceed the 33,000 tons originally forecast by the company, El Mercurio cited Pacheco as saying.

Pacheco estimates that the mine will produce slightly more than 300,000 tons of copper this year, from 356,000 last year, according to El Mercurio.

(By Matthew Bristow)