Chilean copper mines, including those operated by BHP and Codelco, have resumed operations after a significant power outage caused by a transmission line failure. The outage affected numerous mines and regions until recovery efforts restored over 90% of residential power. Investigations into the outage’s cause are underway, highlighting issues with safety systems at power stations.
Operations have resumed at major copper mines in Chile following a significant power outage caused by a transmission line failure in northern Chile. This outage, which happened on Tuesday afternoon, impacted the country’s power grid across the mining-heavy regions from the north to the central and southern areas, as reported by Reuters. During the outage, BHP’s Escondida copper mine was notably affected, losing power completely.
State-owned miner Codelco also reported that all its operations suffered outages, including the Chuquicamata, Andina, Salvador, and El Teniente mines, with some utilizing backup generators for limited functionality. Similarly, Antofagasta and Anglo American implemented backup power solutions to sustain their mining activities during the disruption. Recovery efforts saw Chile’s National Electricity Coordinator (CEN) restore over 90% of residential power by Wednesday morning, although sporadic outages persisted in certain cities.
Escondida is now back to full operations, as are Anglo American’s Los Bronces and El Soldado mines, along with Chagres smelter in central Chile, which all regained power. Codelco announced a phased return to regular operations across its divisions, while Antofagasta confirmed the resumption of its activities post-outage. Interior Minister Carolina Toha addressed concerns regarding the failure of several safety mechanisms, which have hindered the restart of other power stations.
The outage has been attributed to ISA Interchile, a subsidiary of Colombia’s ISA and owned by the state oil company Ecopetrol. The general manager of ISA Interchile, Luis Llano, stated that an investigation is underway to determine the precise causes of the disruption, noting failures in the electronic and software protection systems that contributed to the disconnection of the high-voltage line and subsequent grid failure.
In summary, Chile’s copper mining sector is resuming operations after a major power outage due to a transmission line failure. Key players like BHP, Codelco, and Anglo American faced significant disruptions but have successfully restored power and resumed activities. Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the outage, emphasizing the need for improved reliability in the energy supply.
Original Source: www.mining-technology.com
