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A worker has died in an accident at BHP’s (ASX, NYSE: BHP) Escondida copper mine in northern Chile’s Antofagasta region.
Chile’s National Geology and Mining Service (Sernageomin) confirmed the fatality on Sept. 23, and ordered the “immediate deployment of the regional team” to the mine, said acting national director Mauricio Lorca in a post on X.
Sernageomin didn’t provide details about the circumstances of the accident or identify the victim.
The accident involved a front-end loader used in mining, union head Sebastian Liberona told Reuters.
BHP told Reuters that operations at Escondida are currently suspended.
BHP said the worker had been killed while carrying out maintenance work. The union representing the site had previously told Reuters that the accident involved a front-end loader frequently used by the industry.
“All operational activities at the mine have been suspended,” BHP said in a statement, without giving a timeline for when they may restart.
Escondida is the world’s largest copper mines and is operated by BHP, which owns a 57.5% stake. Rio Tinto holds 30% and Japanese investors own the remainder.
BHP is amid contract negotiations with Escondida workers, with a vote to take place by the end of September. The union is asking workers to reject the offer, and a potential strike could follow.
(With files from Reuters)
