https://www.miningweekly.com

Chile says copper miners complying with sanitary measures amid outbreak

17th June 2020

By: Reuters

  

Font size: - +

SANTIAGO - A Chilean regulator on Tuesday dismissed the concerns voiced by union workers that mining companies were failing to enforce sanitary measures to combat the spread of the coronavirus, calling mine adherence to the restrictions "adequate".

Unions had urged the government to re-assess the operating plans of the country´s sprawling mines on Sunday, citing an "alarming" increase in infections among workers.

But Chile´s Geology and Mining Service (Sernageomin) told Reuters in an emailed statement it had carried out 4,299 inspections at various mining sites throughout the world´s top copper producer since the outbreak began in mid-March.

"We have verified on the ground an adequate implementation by the industry and its workers of ... the respective protocols," the agency said in the statement.

Chile, unlike neighboring Peru, has yet to require mines to limit operations, even as the number of cases nationwide has soared. South America has in recent weeks become the epicenter of the global outbreak, with Peru, Chile and Brazil especially hard hit.

Chile has seen an explosive increase in infections since May, averaging more than 5 000 new cases daily. The country has now logged 180,000 confirmed cases and more than 3,300 deaths due to Covid-19.

Most mining companies in the country´s vast northern desert have nonetheless maintained operational continuity. Chile said in May its copper industry ranked among the least affected globally by the pandemic, anticipating just a 1% reduction in output.

International giants like the state-owned Codelco, BHP , Anglo American, Glencore, Antofagasta and Freeport McMoRan operate in Chile.

None of the companies, nor the associations of the sector, have issued declarations on the indications of the unions.

Edited by Reuters

Article Enquiry

Email Article

Save Article

Feedback

To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here

Showroom

M and J Mining
M and J Mining

M and J Mining are leading suppliers of physical support systems as used by the underground mining industry. Our selection of products are not...

VISIT SHOWROOM 
SafeQuip
SafeQuip

SafeQuip is a leading distributor and manufacturer of fire safety solutions, offering a comprehensive range of products designed to meet all...

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

ARM CEO Phillip Tobias.
ARM headline earnings up 19%, dividend declared
4th September 2026 By: Martin Creamer

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:0.053 0.075s - 110pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now