De réir le a tuarascáil scaoileadh ag an Sile Copar agus Mianadóireacht Taighde Ionad (CESCO) ar Lúnasa 17% 2c an domhan % 27s is mó copar táirgeoir% 2c Codelco % 2c is ag riosca de féimheacht.
Rising costs and mounting debt from projects that fail to meet expected production targets could push the company's debt from $18 billion today to $30 billion by 2030, according to the report. The rare intervention by an industry body, funded by revenues from its organisation's activities, was designed to draw attention to the serious financial problems facing Codelco.
In response to a request for comment, Codelco said: "Codelco has a solid financial position and extensive access to financial markets, which is confirmed by our high credit rating."
"Rialú the future growth of debt is an important focus... Braitheann sé ar forbairt of the investment projects and the operating performance, and we put our best efforts in these areas."
Codelco% 2c an croí de an tSile% 27s mianadóireacht tionscal % 2c riachtanais go treisiú a a copar táirgeadh ó % 7b % 7b0% 7d % 7dyear lows.
Last year's production was 1.46 million tons, 28 percent of Chile's total of 5.33 million tons. Total global copper supply is about 25 million tonnes.
CESCO said Codelco's production had fallen despite investing $15 billion in flagship products, including El Teniente, where cost overruns have so far been 75 percent, and Chuquicamata, where cost overruns have been announced by 53 percent.
Codelco did not comment on the figures.
"An is mó cuí rud inniu is to understand the technical feasibility of the project and see if it is possible to achieve the promised production targets," CESCO said.
Ba chóir go dtarlódh sé seo "even roimh ag leanúint ar aghaidh le déanamh infheistíocht cinntí, toisc... Costas de fiachas i mbaol an airgeadais inmharthanacht of our country and the value of our major assets."
In an emailed response, Codelco said, "Codelco has explained... There will be no shift of focus away from copper production, or diversion of resources from other areas."
CESCO said Chile's future prosperity was tied to Codelco's fate and that the state-owned miner needed to focus on improving efficiency in governance, administrative structures and regulation before resuming investment and accumulating more debt.
"Codelco may be experiencing one of the most complex moments in its 52-year history," the report said.
"If production and cost commitments for these [structural] projects are not met, debt levels could reach such a high level that they could drag the company into inturnency and jeopardize its financial viability."
Codelco produced 633,000 tonnaí of copper in the first half of 2023, the lowest level in 25 years. In the past five years, its copper production has fallen by 17 percent and is expected to continue to decline until 2025.
