Key facts
- BHP's Escondida mine, the world's largest copper mine, suspended operations on Wednesday.
- A worker died in an accident while carrying out maintenance at the mine.
- The union stated the accident involved a front-end loader.
- BHP has not given a timeline for when operations will resume.
- Chilean mines typically require inspector verification of safety conditions before restarting after a fatal incident.
- Escondida is located in Chile's Atacama Desert.
Operations at the world's largest copper mine, BHP's Escondida mine in Chile, were suspended on Wednesday after a worker died in an accident, the company said. The worker was killed while carrying out maintenance, according to BHP. The union representing the site told Reuters that the accident involved a front-end loader, a piece of equipment frequently used in the industry.
BHP stated that all operational activities at the mine have been suspended, without providing a timeline for a potential restart. In Chile, mines typically must wait for inspectors to verify safety conditions before resuming activities after a fatal incident.
Escondida is located in the Atacama Desert. BHP operates the mine, with Rio Tinto holding a 30% stake and Japan-based JECO Corp holding 12.5%. BHP had previously estimated the site would produce up to 1.28 million metric tons of copper this year.