Chilean Copper Mines Resume Operations After Significant Power Outage

Chilean copper mines have resumed operations after a major power outage caused by a transmission line failure. The outage affected several key mines, including BHP’s Escondida and Codelco’s operations. By Wednesday, most residential power was restored. Officials reported concerns regarding the safety mechanisms and the investigation into the incident is underway.

Operations at some of the largest copper mines in Chile have resumed after a significant power outage caused by a transmission line failure in the northern region. The disruption occurred on Tuesday afternoon, affecting the country’s power grid from the mining-heavy north to the central and southern areas. Key mines such as BHP’s Escondida were left without electricity, while state-owned Codelco confirmed that all its operations, including Chuquicamata and El Teniente, experienced power loss, with some relying on backup generators.

Chilean National Electricity Coordinator (CEN) reported that by Wednesday morning, more than 90% of residential power had been restored, although some cities experienced intermittent outages. Full power was restored to Escondida, as well as Anglo American’s Los Bronces and El Soldado mines, including the Chagres smelter. Codelco indicated a gradual return to normal operations across its divisions, while Antofagasta confirmed the resumption of its mining activities.

Interior Minister Carolina Toha raised concerns during a press conference, highlighting the failure of multiple safety mechanisms and noting issues faced by other power stations trying to restart. The outage has been associated with ISA Interchile, a subsidiary of the Colombian energy distributor owned by state oil company Ecopetrol. General Manager Luis Llano stated that an investigation into the outage is underway, revealing malfunctions in electronic and software protection systems that prompted the disconnection of a high-voltage line and subsequent grid failure.

The recent power outage significantly affected operations at major Chilean copper mines, but power has now been restored. While most residential consumption has returned, it has prompted concerns over safety protocols and system malfunctions. Investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the outage and to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Original Source: www.mining-technology.com