Chilean state-owned copper producer Codelco has partially suspended operations at its El Teniente mine in Cachapoal province following a fatality on 2 June.
A worker was struck by a rock at 11:00 local time while working at the Pilar Norte sector of the mine, triggering its closure. Codelco produced 93,900t of refined copper at El Teniente in January-March. The firm provided no details on the scale or timeframe of the shutdown.
The incident comes amid a contract dispute with three workers' unions at Codelco's Chuquicamata copper mine. The unions have rejected Codelco's contract offer and on 31 May said they will enter a five-day mediation period, during which the parties will negotiate to avert strike action.
Codelco's refined copper output stood at a weaker than expected 342,000t in January-March. But the firm maintained its 2019 production guidance of 1.7mn t.
Codelco is the world's largest copper producer and its refined copper output was 1.68mn t in 2018.
