Codelco Faces Stricter Safety Demands to Reopen El Teniente Mine Following Deadly Accident
Chile’s Sernageomin Tightens Safety Rules for Codelco’s El Teniente Mine After Fatal Collapse
Chile’s mining regulator, Sernageomin, has imposed stricter safety requirements on state-owned copper producer Codelco before it can fully reopen operations at its flagship El Teniente mine, following a deadly collapse that killed six workers on July 31.
According to official directives, Codelco must now submit a detailed monitoring and follow-up plan to ensure the stability and safety of all underground operations at El Teniente that remain closed.
The accident prompted Codelco to immediately suspend activity across the vast mine, its most profitable asset.
Since then, the company has gradually reopened eight of the mine’s 12 production sectors. Located in the Andes Mountains near Santiago, El Teniente features several thousand kilometers of underground tunnels, making it one of the world’s most complex mining operations.
On Monday, Codelco announced it is working to resume operations at the Andes Norte and Diamante sectors, pending approval from both Sernageomin and the labor inspector’s office. However, its Recursos Norte and Andesita units remain shut down.
The collapse primarily affected the new Andesita development, but Andes Norte and Diamante were also suspended as part of the ongoing investigation.
Before granting authorization to reopen, Sernageomin has demanded additional technical reports, including control measures to prevent further accidents.
The world’s largest copper producer, Codelco, has already lowered its annual output forecast due to the prolonged shutdown at El Teniente, underlining the financial and operational impact of the tragedy.
