Mining Minister Gonzalez revealed that Codelco’s El Teniente and Andina copper mines in middle of Chile would reopen soon after examiners did not find any major damage from the earthquake that hit the country.

The 8.8 magnitude earthquake this morning, killed around 214 people and forced four copper mines to halt their operations, and these produce around 16 percent of the country’s production. Also, two oil refineries were forced to halt the production due to power outage. Quake also destroyed bridges and buildings and knocked out power outage.

Empresa Nacional de Petroleo’s Aconcagua oil refinery will be again repaired from the damage in just six days, whereas the state oil company’s Bio Bio unit will take longer time to be fixed.

Codelco yesterday revealed that the EL Teniente and Andina copper mines have stop the production due to the power outage and Anglo American Plc’s Los bronces and EL soldado mines in chile also halted operation for the same reason.

Codelco generates around 600,000 tons of the metal annually from El Teniente and Andina. Anglo’s Los Bronces and El Soldado mines generate around 280,000 tons a year.

"The real concern now is energy supply”, said Codelco spokeswoman, referring to power outage because of the earthquake.