Chile's Codelco gets regulatory approval to reopen part of El Teniente mine

9/8/2025 12:15

Copper giant Codelco has received approval from Chile's mining regulator to reopen a part of its flagship El Teniente mine, after more than a week of suspended operations following a deadly collapse that killed six workers, it said on Friday.



Chile's labor inspection office needs to sign off on the plan before El Teniente can resume mining activity, Codelco said in a statement. It did not say when it expects final approval or when operations may restart.



The state-run company aims to restart in a number of sectors of the mine, excluding those affected by the July 31 accident, pending further analysis.



A major tremor that day caused tunnels to collapse around the new Andesita section of the vast mine, which contains the world's largest underground copper deposit.



The mining regulator said the approved areas show no damage or imminent risk, and instructed Codelco to monitor seismic activity and comply with operational guidelines.