SANTIAGO, June 12 (Reuters) - Mining giant BHP (BHP.AX) New Tab, opens new tab and the union representing workers at its Spence copper mine in Chile have agreed to extend contract negotiations, said BHP on Wednesday, for now putting off the risk of a strike.

The union represents more than 1,100 workers at the copper mine located in northern Chile. Their previous collective agreement expired on May 31.

"Final Offer proposal must be presented to its (union) bases to be voted, so both parties agreed to extend the mediation in three days", said BHP in a statement.

BHP said that the Spence mine, which produced 249,000 metric tons of copper last year, is operating as normal while the firm seeks an amicable solution with the union.

Chile is the world's largest copper producer.

Sign up here.

https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/bhp-chile-mine-union-extend-contract-negotiations-2024-06-12/