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The world’s largest underground copper mine, El Teniente, is set to resume operations on Sunday after being closed for over a week following a fatal accident.
The mine, located in Chile, was ordered to halt work on August 1 after a tunnel collapse killed five miners.
The miners were trapped after a “seismic event” caused the collapse. All five were later found dead.
An investigation is currently underway to determine whether the shaking was caused by a natural earthquake or by drilling activities.
The mine’s state-owned operator, Codelco, has confirmed that normal operations will restart on Sunday.
Chile is the world’s leading copper producer, providing nearly a quarter of the global supply. El Teniente mine is a significant part of this output, contributing almost seven per cent of the country’s total.
Copper is a critical component in modern technology, including renewable energy.
Despite the recent tragedy, Chile’s mining industry is considered one of the safest in the world, with a fatality rate of 0.02% in 2024.
