BHP suspends Escondida mine operations after fatal accident

BHP Group has suspended all operational activities at its Escondida copper mine in Chile following a fatal accident involving a worker. The incident occurred on Wednesday during maintenance work in the mine area, specifically near a shovel platform.

National Geology and Mining Service (Sernageomin) and local police have deployed to the site to investigate the circumstances of the death. The worker was a member of the local union, which has called for an exhaustive investigation and highlighted previous safety concerns in the same area.

As the world’s largest copper mine, the shutdown at Escondida—where BHP holds a 57.5% stake—could impact global copper supplies. The suspension comes during a period of heightened labor tension, as union leaders have recently called for strikes following wage negotiations. BHP's share price saw a decline following the news of the operational halt.