Freeport-McMoRan Inc. said Wednesday it will have to shut down one of its biggest copper mines, at least temporarily, as a result of the spread of the coronavirus.
The Phoenix-based international mining company said after the Peruvian government issued a declaration of a national emergency in its efforts to contain the outbreak of COVID-19, it has suspended mining operations at its Cerro Verde site in that country, and has temporarily transitioned to a care and maintenance status for a 15-day period effective March 16.
During this period, onsite personnel will be limited only to critical activities necessary to maintain the facilities pending a return to normal operations, the company said in a regulatory filing.
Freeport-McMoRan owns 53.56% of Cerro Verde, which operates one of the world’s largest concentrating facilities near Arequipa, Peru.
