Chile orders definitive closure of Lundin’s Alcaparrosa mine
Lundin must permanently close its Alcaparrosa copper mine and faces a $3.41 million fine, which it can either pay or appeal.
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)
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