codelco copper strike situation update

Codelco copper strike situation update
A Reuters roundup of the latest labour disruption situation at Chile's state-owned Codelco's copper operations.

Author: Reuters
Posted: Monday , 30 Jul 2007

A strike by thousands of subcontracted workers at the world's largest copper miner, Chile's Codelco, entered its sixth week on Monday with no agreement in sight.

Following is the situation at each of Codelco's five divisions:

CODELCO NORTE:

Codelco Norte is the company's largest division, accounting for 56.1 percent of company copper output, or 940,600 tonnes of copper in electro-refined and electro-winned cathodes.

Situated 1,030 miles (1,660 km) north of Santiago at an altitude of 2,900 meters (9,515 feet), it consists of the Chuquicamata and Radomiro Tomic operations.

The strike has had little impact on the division. On June 28 around 100 workers broke into a plant building, destroying a truck and stealing eight computers. At the Radomiro Tomic SX/EW plant, the company lost some 1,240 tonnes worth of copper output.

EL TENIENTE:

The second-largest Codelco division, El Teniente accounted for 25 percent of company production last year, or 418,300 tonnes of copper.

Situated 50 miles (80 km) south of Santiago at an altitude of 2,500 meters (8,200 feet), it is home to the world's largest underground copper mine, with 2,400 km of tunnels.

On June 25, the first day of the strike, protesters set fire to 10 buses used to transport staff to the plant, completely destroying them. They also ransacked a company office.

On July 10, protesters attacked four trucks carrying copper from El Teniente, smashing their windscreens, puncturing their tires and leaving them strewn across a road.

There have also been two false bomb alerts at the mine.

On July 26, Codelco suspended all production at the plant after its workers refused to travel to the plant, saying it was too dangerous. Earlier that day protesters had hurled rocks at transport buses, smashing windows. Codelco expects to resume output at El Teniente later on Monday.

ANDINA:

Codelco's third-largest division, Andina accounted for 14.1 percent of company output last year, or 236,400 tonnes of copper.

The highest of Codelco's divisions, it is located 4,000 meters (13,125 feet) above sea level, 50 miles (80 km) northeast of Santiago. It consists of the underground Rio Blanco mine and the Sur Sur open-pit mine.

Following repeated attacks on buses taking staff to the plant, Codelco halted output at Andina on July 9 after a bus driver was seriously injured when hit by a rock during disturbances. The situation was compounded by heavy snowfall in the Andes which blocked the access road to the plant. Andina remained closed for over a week but has since reopened.

On July 26, masked protesters derailed a train carrying copper concentrate from a town near the mine to a smelter on the coast. The train and seven wagons came off the tracks, spilling around half a tonne of copper concentrate.

SALVADOR:

The smallest of Codelco's four mining divisions, Salvador accounted for 4.8 percent of company output last year, or 8,600 tonnes of copper.

Located 685 miles (1,100 km) north of Santiago at 2,600 meters (8,530 feet), it consists of the underground Inca mine and the open-pit Campamento Antiguo and Damiana Norte mines.

The plant has been out of action since the strike began, with workers picketing it and refusing to let staff enter.

The worst violence at Salvador came on July 26 when 24 people needed hospital treatment after clashes between protesters and police who made five arrests.

VENTANAS:

The Ventanas smelter is located in Ventanas, Puchuncavi district, 164 kilometers from Santiago.

Ventanas produced 376,005 tonnes of electrolytic copper in 2006. Due to the processing of anodic sludge in the metals plant refinery, it also produced 150,952 kg of silver and 5,649 kg of gold. The acid plant produced 351,537 tons of sulfuric acid.

Ventanas concentrate production capacity averaged 445,000 dry tonnes for the year 2006.

* Division production information taken from Codelco Web site www.codelco.com.