Copper Output May Suffer If Pandemic Drags On, Chile Group Says Bloomberg 1/21/2021 James Attwood (Bloomberg) -- Top copper producer Chile managed to navigate the pandemic disruptions that stalled mining in other countries, churning out more metal last year than in 2019. That helped keep Chinese refineries supplied at a time of market tightness and high prices. But while Chile is well prepared to operate through a second wave of infections, eventually output could suffer, according to a group representing industry heavyweights. Mines such as BHP Group’s Escondida and those run by state-owned Codelco are reinstating restrictions used in the initial phase of the pandemic -- such as demobilizing some workers and asking others to work remotely -- to safeguard staff and maintain operations as infection rates rise in Chile. They can do that by delaying non-essential activities such as maintenance and earthwork preparations.