BHP Halts Escondida Copper Mine After Worker Fatality

BHP suspended operations at its Escondida copper mine in Chile on September 23, 2026, after a worker was killed in a maintenance accident. The company said all operational activities are halted, with no timeline given for restart. Chilean regulators typically require safety inspections before mines can resume work following fatal incidents. The union had told Reuters the accident involved a front-end loader. Escondida, located in Chile's Atacama Desert, is the world's largest copper mine. BHP operates the site; Rio Tinto holds a 30% stake, and JECO Corp holds 12.5%. BHP had estimated the mine would produce up to 1.28 million metric tons of copper this year. The suspension could tighten global supply of the red metal.