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Viewing cable 06SANTIAGO1769, STRIKE CLOSES WORLD'S LARGEST COPPER MINE

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
06SANTIAGO1769 2006-08-18 20:24 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Santiago
VZCZCXYZ0032
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSG #1769 2302024
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 182024Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9821
INFO RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 3150
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 4650
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ AUG CARACAS 1043
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 3252
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0183
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
UNCLAS SANTIAGO 001769 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON EFIN ETRD CI
SUBJECT: STRIKE CLOSES WORLD'S LARGEST COPPER MINE 
 
REF: SANTIAGO 776 
 
1. Summary. The world's largest copper mine, La Escondida, located 
in northern Chile, closed August 18.  The strike initiated ten days 
ago by unions demanding large salary increases and bonuses has 
caused it to cease all operations.  In 2005, La Escondida supplied 
almost eight percent of the world's copper.  Negotiations are at a 
standstill.  To date, the Chilean government has not intervened. 
End Summary. 
 
Record Copper Prices Driving Demands 
------------------------------------ 
 
2. On August 7, over 2,000 union workers at La Escondida went on 
strike demanding salary increases in light of sustained record 
copper prices and company profits.  Workers are demanding USD 30,000 
in bonuses and nearly 20 percent pay increases.  The strike is being 
closed watched by unions at Chile's other copper mines, including 
those run by Chile's state-owned copper company, CODELCO.  La 
Escondida's union leaders are pressing their demands now as 
projections estimate the mine will produce USD 7 billion in profits 
in 2006.  Copper prices (see reftel) have remained near record highs 
for much of 2006 and the Chilean government's own projections 
anticipate an average price in 2006 at around USD 3 per pound. 
 
World's Largest Copper Mine 
--------------------------- 
 
3. The La Escondida Copper Mine, located outside of the port city of 
Antofogasta over 1,000 kilometers north of Santiago and controlled 
by the British-Australian company BHP Billiton, is the largest 
copper mine in the world.  It operates as an open pit mine and 
currently accounts for 7.6 percent of total global production and 
23.9 percent of Chile's total copper production.  The mine's 
production accounted for 2.55 percent of Chile's GDP in 2005.  La 
Escondida's total production for 2005 was 1,271,472 metric tons of 
refined copper, representing a 6.4 percent increase over 2004.  In 
2005, La Escondida sales totaled USD 4.4 billion or 9.1 percent of 
Chile's total exports. 
 
4. La Escondida produces several copper products:  copper 
concentrates, copper blisters and copper anodes, refined copper, 
semi-manufactured products, and copper scrap.  Its main export 
markets are Japan, Germany, Canada, China, Sweden, Brazil, South 
Korea and France.  La Escondida's profits reached USD 2.9 billion 
between January and June 2006, compared to USD 937 million recorded 
in the same period a year ago.  Its profits for all of 2005 were USD 
2.6 billion.  La Escondida directly employs 2,300 workers with an 
additional 1,900 positions supplied by contractors.  Another 8,000 
jobs in northern Chile are related to its production activities. 
 
Significance for World Copper Market 
------------------------------------ 
 
5. The strike's initial days reversed a downward trend in world 
copper prices, helping push the price per pound up to USD 3.59 on 
the London Metal Exchange Market.  To date, the strike has not 
triggered a significant increase in the price of copper, but the 
cessation on August 18 of all of La Escondida's operations and the 
suspension of talks will likely increase world prices.  According to 
Alfredo Atucha, Vice-President of Finance at La Escondida, the 
company is attempting to implement contingency plan that will allow 
it to meet its supply commitments. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
6.  On the national level, the GOC has played down the strike's 
importance, to avoid politicizing private sector negotiations 
between private sector actors and to protect Chile's cherished image 
as a model of stability.  In the words of Minister of Labor Osvaldo 
Andrade, "this strike is a legal right of Chilean workers and this 
is an issue that affects one company in particular".  He expects a 
quick resolution and under Chilean law the GOC become will not get 
involved unless both parties request its participation.  In the 
meantime, a significant portion of Chile's economy and the world's 
supply of copper has gone idle with prospects for resuming 
operations not in sight. 
KELLY