Chile copper mines disruptions put 5% of production at risk

New study finds labour disputes, weather, safety and geology threaten output across Chile’s biggest copper mines.

Strikes, severe weather, accidents and geological problems put an average 5.2% of production at Chile’s largest copper mines at risk, according to a new assessment that suggests almost one in 10 tonnes could be vulnerable at the country’s most exposed operations.

GEM Mining Consulting’s first Production-at-Risk Index assessed 14 major copper operations across eight threats, with scores ranging from 2.6% to 9%.

El Teniente ranked highest at 9%, followed by Los Pelambres at 8% and Escondida at 7.5%.

Nine operations carry at least one risk rated high.

The results come after a turbulent few months for the world’s largest copper-producing country.

Workers at Antofagasta’s (LON: ANTO) Centinela began an indefinite strike this week, BHP’s (ASX: BHP) Escondida shut after a fatal accident and storms disrupted Los Pelambres and Caserones .

Codelco also suspended its Andes Norte project at El Teniente over deep seismic risks.

The index attempts to quantify a problem that production forecasts can obscure: mine plans generally assume operations proceed largely as expected, even though labour disputes, weather, accidents, geology and processing problems routinely interrupt output.

Chile produced 9.3% less copper from January through July than during the same period in 2025, while July output sank to its lowest monthly level since 2011, the Santiago-based consultancy said.

The highest-risk operations stand out because multiple vulnerabilities overlap rather than because of any single threat.

At El Teniente, high geotechnical and safety risks combine with four medium-rated categories, while Los Pelambres carries high weather and water exposure.

Escondida has high ratings for both labour and safety.

Strikes, severe weather, accidents and geological problems put an average 5.2% of production at Chile’s largest copper mines at risk, according to a new assessment that suggests almost one in 10 tonnes could be vulnerable at the country’s most exposed operations.

GEM Mining Consulting’s first Production-at-Risk Index assessed 14 major copper operations across eight threats, with scores ranging from 2.6% to 9%.

El Teniente ranked highest at 9%, followed by Los Pelambres at 8% and Escondida at 7.5%.

Nine operations carry at least one risk rated high.

The results come after a turbulent few months for the world’s largest copper-producing country.