BHP prepares for strike, halting operations at Escondida copper mine

Updated Feb 9, 2017 – 3.47am, first published at 3.41am

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BHP Billiton has begun halting operations at its Escondida copper mine in northern Chile, the world's largest, ahead of a planned strike on Thursday, a union leader told Reuters.

The company has said it plans to stop production at the mine during a strike, which the union has warned could be lengthy, potentially affecting global supplies of a metal used in everything from construction to telecommunications.

Reuters