Chile to Boost Copper Output

Public and private firms will invest $15.2 billion in copper and gold projects in Chile through 2008, about half of which will come from state-owned copper giant Codelco. The government predicts annual copper output will increase to 6.3 million tons by 2010, thanks mainly to higher production at Codelco, BHP Biliton and Antofagasta Minerals, a unit of Chilean holding group Luksic. Copper prices stand near record prices as global demand has soared in recent months.