Chile mining minister: government will emit order to halt underground operations at Codelco's El Teniente mine after fatal accident

Chile mining minister: government will emit order to halt underground operations at Codelco's El Teniente mine after fatal accident

SANTIAGO, July 2, 2025 - Following a fatal accident at the El Teniente mine, Chile's mining minister has ordered an immediate halt to all underground operations at Codelco's flagship copper mine. The decision comes after a collapse on Thursday killed one worker and left five others trapped underground [1].

The incident occurred at the Andesita project, a 25-kilometer tunnel complex expanding from the El Teniente mine on the western slopes of the Andes Mountains. A magnitude 5 earthquake struck the area, causing a collapse that blocked access routes to the work sites 900 meters underground [2].

The government has suspended operations in the affected area and evacuated 3,000 people from the site to safe areas. The Chilean National Copper Corporation (Codelco) has reduced copper extraction operations at El Teniente but continues to operate its concentrator and smelter [3].

The El Teniente mine, which opened in 1905, produced 356,000 metric tons of copper last year. The complex spans over 4,500 kilometers of tunnels and underground galleries in the Andes mountains, about 75 kilometers southeast of Santiago. The incident has raised concerns about the mine's safety and the potential impact on Codelco's production and financial performance.

The government's order to halt underground operations at El Teniente is expected to have significant implications for Chile's copper production and the global market. Chile is the world's largest copper producer, and the El Teniente mine is one of the world's largest underground copper deposits [2].

The next 48 hours are crucial for the rescue efforts, and the government has deployed search-and-rescue teams to locate the trapped workers. The incident is under investigation to determine whether it was caused by a natural seismic event or mining activity [1].

References:
[1] Reuters. (2025, Aug 1). Chile's Codelco aims to reach five trapped mine workers within 12 hours. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/chiles-codelco-hopes-reach-five-trapped-mine-workers-within-12-hours-2025-08-01/
[2] PBS NewsHour. (2025, Aug 1). Collapse at Chile's major copper mine kills one worker and leaves five missing. Retrieved from https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/collapse-at-chiles-major-copper-mine-kills-1-worker-and-leaves-5-missing
[3] Reuters. (2025). Chilean miner Codelco reduces El Teniente copper extraction after accident. Retrieved from https://www.tradingview.com/news/reuters.com,2025:newsml_S0N3NO01K:0-codelco-reduces-el-teniente-copper-extraction-after-accident/