Codelco Fined After Deadly Collapse, Contractors Face Heavier Penalties

Authorities imposed sanctions following the July 31 seismic event that triggered a deadly underground rock burst.

The disaster killed six contract workers and injured others at the world’s largest underground copper mine.

Records show regulators fined three contractors more heavily, reflecting Chile’s split-liability framework for subcontracted operations.

Contractors incurred combined penalties near $87,000, while Codelco faced roughly $20,000 in fines.

Inspectors found Codelco lacked a clear seismic response protocol to guide decisions on halting operations.

Authorities also cited violations when workers prepared to enter restricted underground zones during a suspension period.

The collapse disrupted production, cutting output by tens of thousands of tons amid already tight global copper supply.

Codelco has since strengthened safety procedures and continues a gradual restart, pending regulatory approval and ongoing investigations.

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