An energy shortage in Chile may do for copper what cuts in electricity supplies did for platinum in South Africa -- spark a record-setting rally in prices.
Reduced natural-gas imports from Argentina and a drought that cut hydropower output may force Chile, the world's biggest copper producer, to ration electricity to mines owned by Codelco, Anglo American Plc and Antofagasta Plc. In South Africa, platinum production plunged and prices jumped as much as 51 percent this year after utilities limited power in January.
``Power is a problem now in Chile,'' Hugh Callaghan, chairman of copper miner Tamaya Resources Ltd., said in a phone interview from London on March 25. ``The ingredients are there for another spike in copper.''>>>MORE
And since Tellurium is a byproduct of copper mining an extended slowdown could have a negative impact on FSLR.
