(Kitco News) - Chile-focused mining company Antofagasta (LSE: ANTO), one of the world's senior copper producers, announced today that access to the company’s Los Pelambres operation is being blocked by a small group of people, without connection to any specific incident or situation, but who are requesting compensation to clear access.
The company said that this situation has continued for some days and affects the transport of critical supplies and personnel to the mine site, adding that to date there has been no material impact on production although work on mine development has been reduced over the period.
“The authorities are working to clear the blockade and the company is engaging with them and representatives of the local communities to jointly resolve the situation,” Antofagasta noted in a statement.
The company said it will make a further announcement if the situation continues and a material impact is expected.
Antofagasta operates four mines in Chile: Los Pelambres, Centinela, Antucoya and Zaldívar. All of the company's mines are open pit operations.
Los Pelambres is a sulphide deposit in Chile’s Coquimbo Region, 240 km north of Santiago. It produces copper concentrate (containing gold and silver) and molybdenum concentrate through a milling and flotation process.
Los Pelambres’ forecast production for 2022 is 290–300,000 tonnes of copper, 6.5–7,500 tonnes of molybdenum and 40–50,000 ounces of gold.
