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Chile Mining Company Sells Assets to Avoid Bankruptcy

   VOA News 26 November 2010
   Esteban  Rojas, center, the 18th miner to be rescued from the San Jose
   Mine  near  Copiapo,  Chile,  waves after his rescue Wednesday, 13 Oct
   2010

Photo: AP

   Esteban  Rojas, center, the 18th miner to be rescued from the San Jose
   Mine near Copiapo, Chile, waves after his rescue, 13 Oct 2010

   The company that owns the Chilean mine 33 men were trapped in for more
   than two months has agreed to sell its assets to avoid bankruptcy.
   Judge  Rocio  Perez said Thursday creditors have given the San Esteban
   mining company 15 months to repay its debts.
   Thirty-three  of  the  company's miners were rescued last month from a
   mine  in  northern Chile after a tunnel collapse on August 5 left them
   trapped for 69 days.
   Chile's  Radio  Cooperativa  reports some of the money will be used as
   severance  pay  for the 300 miners of the San Jose mine who lost their
   jobs after the collapse.
   The  mining  company  also owes the Chilean government between $10 and