https://www.miningweekly.com

Receive our free daily newsletter:

Codelco

Codelco is Chile's state-owned copper mining company and the world's largest copper producer by output. Headquartered in Santiago, the company operates entirely within Chile, managing a portfolio of major mining divisions including Chuquicamata, El Teniente, Andina, Radomiro Tomic, Ministro Hales, Gabriela Mistral and Salvador. The company is wholly owned by the Chilean government through the Corporación Nacional del Cobre de Chile and operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Mining. Codelco accounts for a significant share of global copper production, typically producing more than 1.5-million tonnes of copper a year, and contributes substantially to Chile's export revenues and fiscal income. The company employs tens of thousands of workers directly and supports extensive contractor workforces across its operations. Codelco's operations span underground and openpit mines, smelters and refineries, producing refined copper cathodes, concentrate and by-products including molybdenum, gold and silver. The company has embarked on a multibillion-dollar structural investment programme to sustain production through mine-life extensions and the development of new underground projects beneath ageing openpit operations. Codelco was established in 1976 following the nationalisation of Chile's large-scale copper mines in 1971, consolidating assets previously operated by foreign companies into a single state enterprise that has since become a cornerstone of the Chilean economy.

Codelco News


The Maricunga salt flat
Codelco sees lithium project in Chile's Maricunga salt flat feasible in eight more years
16th July 2026 By: Reuters

Chile's Codelco expects its lithium project in the Maricunga salt flat to become a reality in eight years, chairperson Bernardo Fontaine said on Wednesday. The Maricunga lithium project is managed... 


The El Abra mine
Chile's Codelco expects flat copper output in coming years, chairperson says
16th July 2026 By: Reuters

Chile's State-run copper miner Codelco expects production in the coming years to stay similar to current levels, chairperson Bernardo Fontaine said on Wednesday, when asked if the company was on... 


Atacama salt flat
Chile's Novandino Litio seeks enviro approval for $3bn Atacama lithium project
6th July 2026 By: Reuters

Novandino Litio, the joint venture between Chilean lithium producer SQM and State-owned copper miner Codelco, filed for environmental approval on Friday for a $3-billion project aimed at extending... 


El Teniente mine
Codelco debt and high costs hurt competitiveness, document says
3rd July 2026 By: Reuters

Chile's State-run copper giant Codelco sees soaring costs, which are over one-and-a-half times above its global rivals, and heavy debt are the main challenges to the struggling company's... 


El Teniente copper mine
Chile's Codelco to consider asset sales, partnerships in investment review
25th June 2026 By: Reuters

Chile's State-owned Codelco, one of the world's largest copper producers, will consider asset sales and partnerships as part of a broader review of its investment priorities, chairperson Bernardo... 


The neighbouring Los Bronces and Andina mines, in Chile
Anglo, Codelco ink definitive agreement for joint mine plan in Chile
24th June 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

Diversified miner Anglo American has completed a definitive agreement with Chile's State-owned miner Codelco to implement a joint mine plan for their respective Los Bronces and Andina copper... 


The above image depicts professional services firm Deloitte Chile energy resources and industrials leader Patrick Hall
Chile’s copper to play major role in decarbonisation
19th June 2026 By: Lynne Davies

As Chile targets net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, its continued production of copper and lithium are key elements of the country’s energy transition, with copper regarded as a longer-term... 


LITHIUM EXTRACTION: Chilean mining companies Codelco and SQM are budgeting $3-billion to deploy new extraction technologies at their lithium joint venture in the Atacama Desert. Bloomberg reports that the companies’ Novandino Litio partnership set its latest projection after wrapping up design work on a project to introduce more direct ways to recover lithium from brine under the Atacama salt flat in northern Chile. The venture plans to submit an environmental impact study to regulators in June. Photograph: Bloomberg
LITHIUM EXTRACTION:
5th June 2026

Chilean mining companies Codelco and SQM are budgeting $3-billion to deploy new extraction technologies at their lithium joint venture in the Atacama Desert. Bloomberg reports that the companies’... 


Codelco's El Teniente mine
Chile's Codelco copper giant names Jorge Gomez as new CEO
4th June 2026 By: Reuters

Chile's embattled State copper giant Codelco named Jorge Gomez as its new CEO on Wednesday as the company continues to deal with fallout following a scandal over inflated production figures. In a... 


Codelco and SQM's lithium joint venture project in Chile
Codelco, SQM budget $3bn for lithium project in Chile
27th May 2026 By: Bloomberg

Chilean mining companies Codelco and SQM are budgeting $3-billion to deploy new extraction technologies at their lithium joint venture in the Atacama Desert. The companies' Novandino Litio... 


An SQM mine
SQM boosts lithium guidance as earnings top estimates
27th May 2026 By: Bloomberg

Chilean copper miner SQM reported a sharp increase in first-quarter profit and raised its lithium sales forecast, betting that robust demand from battery storage systems will keep the market... 


Antofagasta's Los Pelambres mine, in Chile
Strong Chile earthquake shakes mining hub, but damage is minimal
26th May 2026 By: Reuters

A strong earthquake struck Chile's important mining region of Antofagasta on Monday afternoon, disrupting operations at some mines but ultimately sparing lives and critical infrastructure,... 


Codelco's offices
Chile taps new chair for copper miner Codelco amid production, debt concerns
15th May 2026 By: Reuters

Chile's government on Thursday tapped Bernardo Fontaine to replace Maximo Pacheco as chairperson of the world's largest copper producer, State-run Codelco, giving the economist and executive a key... 


Codelco's El Teniente mine
Copper output from Chile's Codelco down 10% in March
12th May 2026 By: Reuters

SANTIAGO – Copper production from Chilean State-run miner Codelco fell 9.98% year-on-year in March to 110 900 metric tons, data from copper commission Cochilco showed on Tuesday. Production at... 


El Teniente copper mine, in Chile
Chilean copper miner Codelco, contractors fined after deadly mine collapse
13th April 2026 By: Reuters

Chilean State copper miner Codelco was fined by labor authorities after last year's deadly collapse at its El Teniente mine, while three contractors whose workers were killed or injured were... 


Los Bronces (left) and Andina (right)
Chile clears Codelco–Anglo American joint mining plan
30th March 2026 By: Mariaan Webb

Copper major Codelco and diversified miner Anglo American have received approval from Chile’s antitrust regulator for their planned joint operation of the adjacent Andina and Los Bronces mines.... 


Executive chairperson Máximo Pacheco
Codelco sees war disruptions adding 5% to cost of making copper
30th March 2026 By: Bloomberg

Top copper supplier Codelco expects disruptions from the Middle East war to lift its production costs by about 5%, offering one of the first quantified inflation estimates from a major mining... 


Codelco logs $4.85bn pre-tax profit in 'very difficult' 2025
Codelco logs $4.85bn pre-tax profit in 'very difficult' 2025
27th March 2026 By: Reuters

Chilean state-owned Codelco, the world's largest copper producer, on Friday reported a pre-tax profit of $4.85-billion in 2025. The company, which remits all its profits to the government,... 


Chile's government sacks head of State miner ENAMI
27th March 2026 By: Reuters

The Chilean government said on Thursday that it had removed the head of state miner Enami, Ivan Mlynarz. The company advisory sent to the local securities regulator was signed by Javiera Estrada,... 


Large native copper nugget
El Abra copper mine expansion, Chile – update
27th March 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

Freeport-McMoRan has started the process of obtaining an environmental permit for the expansion. 


1
2 3

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







pqt: 0.177s - ct: 0.23s - 275pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now