14 February 2012 Last updated at 01:23 ET

BHP and Rio to invest $4.5bn in Chile mine expansion

Copper pipes The demand for copper has been rising in emerging countries especially in Asia

Related Stories

BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto have announced plans to expand the Escondida mine in Chile in a bid to boost their copper output.

The two firms have approved plans to invest a combined $4.5bn (£3bn) in the mine, which is the world's biggest.

They want to boost their capacity so that they can meet the growing demands from China and other emerging nations.

BHP also announced plans to reopen its idled Pinto Valley mine in Arizona.

BHP said the expansion at the Escondida mine will "help ensure it remains the world's leading copper operation for decades to come".

More on This Story

Related Stories

More Business stories

RSS

Features & Analysis

Elsewhere on the BBC

  • Five very different people talk to Michelle Fleury (top centre)) about their working lives in Quito, EcaudorWorking Lives Ecuador

    The BBC's Michelle Fleury meets five very different people who live and work in Quito

Programmes

  • XBox OneClick Watch

    How far has Microsoft moved from a purist's game console with the XBox One?

BBC © 2013 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.

This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.