BHP bets billions on Chile mines to face global copper crunch
BHP detailed to investors this week plans to spend $10.7 billion to $14.7 billion within about 10 years.
Mexican mining companies Grupo Mexico, Industrias Penoles and Fresnillo can withstand the impact of a shutdown of up to three months because they have sufficient “financial flexibility,” S&P Global Ratings said on Thursday.
The Mexican government declared a health emergency at the end of March and ordered the suspension of non-essential economic activities, including mining, to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus in Latin America’s second-largest economy.
“In our opinion, these companies are able to absorb a drop in EBITDA of 15% to 20% before a potential rating action, which translates into around three months of mine closure,” the ratings agency said.
(By Diego Ore and Anthony Esposito; Editing by Chris Reese and Granr McCool)
Comments