Deaths occurred at Anglo American's Los Bronces mine and at Minera ACF, which produces iodine and nitrate in the Tarapaca region.

An accident still under investigation caused the death of two workers at Anglo American’s Los Bronces mine in Chile’s Metropolitan Region.

Richard Jordinson will replace Marcelo Godoy, who since July has been the interim COO following the retirement of Ludwig Eybers.

Ruben Alvarado also faces reining in ballooning costs, and spearheading a state push into battery metal lithium.

The Chilean government is “close” to specifying what salt flats will be protected under its new national lithium strategy.

The probe will focus in particular on project delays and planning, as well as Codelco's corporate structure, according to a congressional statement.

Fortescue already has some early agreements with potential buyers.

According to Luminex, this agreement is "unprecedented in Ecuador and will serve as a model to be replicated in other projects facing development challenges from artisanal mining operations."