Antamina, Peru’s largest copper and zinc mine, enacted a full safety shutdown this week following a fatal accident that claimed the life of a senior manager and left another employee injured.
The incident occurred at the Yanacancha camp in the Ancash region while both employees were on duty.
In an official statement, Antamina Mining Company said: “This is a difficult time for those of us at Compañía Minera Antamina.
“We regret to inform you that, due to an accident, Mr. Edwin Colque Calisaya, our senior operations manager, died, and another colleague from the same area, Yorhinio León Robles, drilling and blasting superintendent, was injured.”
The company has launched an internal investigation into the cause of the accident and has reached out to the families of the workers involved to offer support and assistance.
Local reports indicate that the accident involved a haul truck crushing a vehicle occupied by the senior manager.
Antamina’s shutdown began immediately after the accident on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, with all mining operations suspended as emergency protocols were activated.
The mine remained closed for approximately two days, with operations beginning a phased restart on Thursday, April 24, under intensified safety protocols and regulatory oversight.
Peruvian authorities, including the Ministry of Energy and Mines, responded promptly to the site to conduct their own assessments.
Antamina is a joint venture between BHP (33.75%), Glencore (33.75%), Teck Resources (22.5%), and Mitsubishi Corporation (10%).
Located 270 kilometres north of Lima in the Andes at an elevation of 4,200 metres, the mine is a major contributor to Peru’s copper output, processing up to 145,000 tonnes per day and producing 435,000 tonnes of copper in 2023 – about 15 per cent of the nation’s total.
The mine also features a 302-kilometre slurry pipeline transporting concentrates to the coast for export.
Earlier this year, Antamina received environmental approval for a US$2 billion expansion, expected to extend operations through 2036.
The recent accident, however, has reignited scrutiny over safety protocols and operational risks at one of the world’s most significant copper producers.
The company concluded its statement: “This is a difficult time for those of us at Compañía Minera Antamina.
“We regret to inform you that, due to an accident, Mr. Edwin Colque Calisaya, our senior operations manager, died, and another colleague from the same area, Yorhinio León Robles, drilling and blasting superintendent, was injured.”
Antamina has pledged to continue supporting the affected families and to work closely with authorities as the investigation proceeds.
