El Teniente mine resumes operations after closing due to rains

SANTIAGO.- Codelco, the world’s largest copper producer stated today that El Teniente is back to regular operations after authorities closed the production plants due to the intense rainfall that wreaked havoc on the central and southern parts of the country last week.

El Teniente, Codelco’s second largest division, had suspended activities on Friday after landslides and flooding blocked access to the mine.

“Fortunately, all of the other divisions (are operating normally)”, a spokesperson for Codelco indicated.

The floods caused damage to many parts of the Copper Highway leading to the main entrance to El Teniente and to the Teniente 8 sector, prompting Codelco to mount repair efforts at various points.

El Teniente, which produces some 420,000 tons of metal per year, is located at about 2,500 meters above sea level, about 80 kilometers to the south of Santiago.