Chile can raise the tax burden for copper producers by about 5 percentage points without significantly affecting the industry, according to Fitch Ratings.

Stockpiles of semi-processed copper at the Las Bambas mine site are “being progressively reduced,” the company said.

Francisco Zuniga will join Codelco in May after almost two years at Hartree Partners LP.

The head of Mexico's mining chamber issued a stark warning against the proposal, saying it could cost the country up to 420,000 direct jobs.

Copper production should pick up in the coming years after a recent slump, mining minister Marcela Hernando said.

Ecuador has abundant mineral reserves but has lagged behind regional neighbors such as Peru and Chile in large-scale mining development.