Chile Collahuasi Lifts Force Majeure On Copper Shipments

Chilean copper mine Dona Ines de Collahuasi lifted the force majeure it declared on May 12 during a contract workers strike, a company spokeswoman said Wednesday.

Last week, the mine was force to shut down for several days to ensure the safety of its employees and equipment after protesting contract workers blockaded the access road leading into the mining compound and left thousands stranded inside.

As a result of the shutdown, Collahuasi lost 11,300 metric tons of copper contained in concentrates, Collahuasi spokeswoman Bernandita Fernandez said in a brief statement.

On Tuesday, operations at the mine returned to normal following the contract workers' industrial action.

Collahuasi taken legal measures against several strikers who threatened supervisors during the walkout, the spokeswoman said.

The mine is owned by diversified mining companies Xstrata PLC (XTA.LN) and Anglo American PLC (AAUKY, AAL.LN), each with a 44% stake. A consortium led by Mitsui & Co. (MITSY, 8031.TO) holds the remaining 12%.

It is located in northern Chile at around 4,500 meters above sea level, in the Andes Mountains.

Collahuasi, one of the largest copper mines in the world, produces about 500,000 metric tons of the red metal a year, or about 10% of Chile's annual output. Chile is the world's leading copper producer, accounting for about 35% of global output.

-By Carolina Pica, Dow Jones Newswires; 56-2-715-8919; carolina.pica@dowjones.com

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