Pandemic-related absenteeism and social unrest in Chile have hit BHP’s copper and nickel output, which fell 10 per cent and 13 per cent, respectively, as the company warned labour constraints would persist for the rest of 2022.
Declines in copper production in the nine months to March 31 were driven by large Covid-19 outbreaks at its Chile operations, as well as road blocks and social unrest in the country, the world’s biggest miner said in a quarterly update on Thursday.
BHP also blamed repairs to its South Australian mines for the drop in copper production. Nickel production in Western Australia was down 13 per cent owing to coronavirus absenteeism and labour shortages, the company said.