Chile’s Andina Copper Mine Resumes Production as Workers Return

Codelco’s Andina mine in central Chile is operating normally after heavy rainfall and landslides prevented workers from reaching the site Feb. 11, an official at the state-owned company said today.

The official, who had been briefed on the matter, declined to be identified, citing company policy.

The mine has been operating normally since 2 p.m. New York time yesterday, the official said. It had closed after the workers were unable to start their shift at 10 p.m. on Feb. 11.

The Andina mine is 3,700 to 4,200 meters above sea level in the Andes mountains, 80 kilometers (50 miles) northeast of Santiago. It produces 210,000 tons of copper concentrate a year and was Chile’s seventh-largest mine in 2008, according to data from the country’s copper commission.

Chile is the world’s biggest producer of the metal, used in pipes and wires. Copper accounts for more than half the country’s exports.

(Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-02-13/chile-s-andina-copper-mine-resumes-production-as-workers-return.html)