Rare Atacama snowstorm halts Chilean copper mines, kills at least 13

Heavy snowfall in Chile's Atacama region has forced major copper miners to suspend production and evacuate workers. Canadian company Lundin Mining halted operations at its Caserones copper and molybdenum mine after a power outage, while Antofagasta suspended mining and processing at its Los Pelambres facility for several days. Barrick Mining airlifted employees from a camp in northern Chile as the storm caused flash floods and power disruptions. Chilean authorities said at least 13 people have died in the storm and resulting floods. State-owned Codelco also temporarily halted output at El Teniente and other key mines, and executives from Anglo American and BHP are monitoring the situation with Chilean officials, according to company statements. The storm has raised concerns about global copper supply, which is critical for power grids, renewable energy projects and data centers, the Financial Times reported. StoneX analyst Natalie Scott-Gray said supply risks in Chile are adding to volatility in copper prices. Further details on the timeline for resuming full operations were not immediately available.