A powerful winter storm is battering Chile's northern mining regions, threatening operations in the country that supplies nearly a quarter of the world's copper.
The Italian utility Enel has responded by increasing its field crews ninefold in the Coquimbo and Atacama regions to manage the impact on power infrastructure critical to mine operations.
The disruption comes at a sensitive time for the copper market.
Investors have been closely monitoring weather patterns across the Pacific, where scientific indicators point to an emerging El Niño phenomenon.
Peru's Multisectoral Commission for the National Study of the El Niño Phenomenon (Enfen) recently forecast a moderate to strong El Niño event for the 2026-2027 summer season, raising concerns about potential supply disruptions across Latin America's mining belt.
Chile's copper output is highly sensitive to weather conditions, particularly in the arid north where open-pit mines rely on consistent power and water access.