Chile’s state-owned copper giant Codelco expects its stalled Andes Norte project at the El Teniente mine to begin production in 2029, despite a recent suspension caused by concerns over seismic risks, a company executive said.
Codelco paused development and construction activities at Andes Norte on August 4 after updated studies indicated that the project faces greater seismic risk than previously estimated. The company has said that worker safety and further technical studies are the immediate priorities.
Andes Norte is part of Codelco’s broader effort to develop deeper sections of the massive El Teniente underground copper complex. The project is strategically important because El Teniente is one of the world’s largest underground copper mines and is expected to remain a key contributor to Chile’s copper production.
Codelco had reached an important milestone in May 2025 when it carried out the first blasting operation at the Andes Norte project. The company said the project contains about 375 million tonnes of reserves and is designed to extend the productive life of the El Teniente operation by roughly 50 years.
The latest delay highlights the technical challenges of developing deposits at extreme depths in a highly seismic region. El Teniente has previously experienced significant seismic events, underscoring the importance of engineering and safety measures as mining moves deeper underground.
The project’s eventual production will be closely watched by global copper markets. Codelco has faced challenges in maintaining and increasing output from its ageing mining assets, while global demand for copper continues to grow because of electrification, renewable-energy infrastructure, electric vehicles and data-centre development.
Starting production in 2029 would allow Codelco to bring the project back into its longer-term production plans while giving engineers additional time to address the seismic concerns identified during recent studies.
The restart and construction timeline will therefore depend heavily on the outcome of Codelco’s technical assessments and the measures required to safely develop Andes Norte. The project remains an important part of Chile’s strategy to sustain copper production from one of its most significant mining complexes.