Machalí, May 23, 2025.- At 3:56 p.m. on Thursday, May 22, the first blast was carried out at the caving level of the Andes Norte project, part of Codelco's El Teniente division. The milestone marks the start of operations in the new sector of the century-old mining operation.

Codelco's CEO, Rubén Alvarado, was in charge of activating the device to detonate the explosives, accompanied by the Vice President of Operations, Mauricio Barraza, and of Projects, Julio Cuevas; along with the General Manager of the El Teniente Division, Andrés Music, executives, and employees.

"This is a long history that dates back to the New Mine Level, where we have had an example of perseverance, resilience, and learning. Today we are delivering 50 more years of production for El Teniente, 50 more years of development for Chile," said Rubén Alvarado.

Mauricio Barraza explained that "this project represents the third major expansion that the El Teniente Division has undergone in its 120 years, with a new level of production, a new materials handling system, and new access to operations for the coming years." He added that "we are at the forefront of knowledge, in a sector requiring high stress, with a distinct seismic risk, but we have no doubt that our workers will successfully carry out the commitments this productive sector has in the short, medium, and long term."

Vice President of Projects, Julio Cuevas, emphasized that this blast represents not only a milestone, but also a responsibility. “Those who exploit Andes Norte in the future will lead deep mining for the next 50 years, given the importance of the El Teniente Division in the region and mining in Chile. The responsibility rests on the shoulders of this generation, but also the tremendous opportunity not only for learning, but also to raise the profile of this deep mining sector globally,” he said.

This same idea was reinforced by Andrés Music, General Manager of the El Teniente Division, who highlighted the collaborative work between El Teniente employees, the Vice President of Projects, and partner companies. “No project can be developed without the talent of its people. That's why it's important to recognize the work you've done to achieve this milestone. You are the first crew of this ship and you have the responsibility to leave behind the best practices, spirit, and values we need to exploit this mine for more than fifty years,” he emphasized.

The Andes Norte project has 375 million tons of reserves and is projected to produce 35,000 tons of ore per day (ktpd), with an average copper grade of 0.99%. The crushing cavern alone has a volume of 84,000 cubic meters.

Codelco