Chile’s Power Grid and Copper Mines Gradually Resume Operations After Outage

Chile’s power grid is recovering after a major outage due to a transmission line failure, which affected millions. Major copper mines are resuming operations, with significant progress reported in restoring power. Authorities are investigating the outage’s causes while addressing intermittent power issues remaining in some areas.

Chile’s power grid and significant copper mining operations resumed gradually on Wednesday after experiencing a substantial outage that impacted the world’s leading copper producer. The outage, resulting from a transmission line failure in northern Chile, began on Tuesday afternoon, leading to widespread darkness in much of the country and causing major disruptions to metal markets.

As of Wednesday morning, over 90% of residential electricity demand was restored, according to Chile’s National Electricity Coordinator (CEN). However, some cities continue to experience intermittent power issues. “Both the incident and its impact are a cause for worry,” remarked Interior Minister Carolina Toha during a press conference, highlighting failures in safety protocols and power stations during restoration efforts.

The outage was linked to ISA Interchile, a subsidiary of Colombia’s ISA, owned by the state oil firm Ecopetrol. ISA Interchile acknowledged the malfunction of electronic and software protection systems, which resulted in the disconnection of a high-voltage line that led to the widespread grid shutdown. General Manager Luis Llano stated that their team remains in constant collaboration with technical authorities to investigate the incident further.

Minister Toha confirmed the lifting of a state of emergency and curfew established after the outage, noting that approximately 220,000 users remained without power, a significant reduction from the peak of 8 million users affected. Major copper mines also began to restart operations, with Escondida, the world’s largest copper mine, anticipating a return to normal operations shortly, as shared by a source close to the situation.

Anglo American reported that its Los Bronces and El Soldado mines, along with its Chagres smelter, initiated the restoration of operations on Wednesday. Codelco, the largest copper producer globally, announced that all of its divisions were gradually coming back online, while Antofagasta confirmed the resumption of its mining operations. Codelco added that emergency plans were activated to address the outage’s impact on its production schedule.

Furthermore, Santiago’s subway service announced the resumption of operations on the majority of its lines and stations, further indicating a restoration of normalcy following the power outage.

In summary, following a massive power outage caused by a transmission line failure, Chile’s power grid is slowly recovering, with over 90% of electricity restored. Major copper mines are coming online, with operations resuming at facilities such as Escondida and Codelco. Officials continue to investigate the causes of the failure and address the situation to ensure safety and stability within the power sector.

Original Source: www.tradingview.com