Copper exploration, development, and production company Codelco has been penalised for six fatalities at its El Teniente Copper Mine in Chile.
Six contractors died and many more were injured after a section of the world’s largest underground mine roof collapsed due to a 4.2 magnitude earthquake on 31 July 2025.
Underground operations were temporarily suspended until rescue efforts and safety inspections concluded. This slashed copper output by more than 20,000 tonnes and delayed shipments.
The country’s labour ministry introduced heavy sanctions against Codelco in the months following the tremor that caused a so-called “rock burst”, according to open records obtained by Reuters.
Codelco received a US$20,000 ($28,113.40) infringement notice while the remaining US$67,000 ($94,179) went to three different contracting companies, according to the newswire agency.
Contractors are legally responsible for accident reporting, risk assessment, worker assignment, and other compliance duties, under the country’s labour code.
Labour inspectors slammed Codelco in one sanction for lacking a complete, written procedure that shows how seismic warnings were used to decide whether to stop or limit work.
Regulators also found Codelco guilty of violating labour rules that prohibit workers from entering, or preparing to enter, underground areas during mine-wide suspensions.
The previously undisclosed fines were privately issued to the company, which could either challenge or request a reduced amount payable.
Then-Labour Minister Giorgio Boccardo promised that both his office and the Sernageomin mining regulator would investigate the incident and whether any workplace safety legislation was breached.
Codelco is a copper exploration, development, and production company with assets mainly in Chile.
Write to Richard Szabo at Mining.com.au
Images: Codelco
