NEW YORK, March 1 - Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. (FCX.N) said operations at its Candelaria mine in Chile were being restored on Monday after a massive earthquake that struck on Saturday knocked out power at the site.

At Candelaria, reliable power is the issue there. It went out on Saturday and as of reports today that is being restored, chief executive officer Richard Adkerson told an investor conference hosted by BMO Capital Markets.

Candelaria, with annual output of 185,000 tonnes, is located northeast of Santiago.

Adkerson said there was no significant damage to the site other than the power interruption.

He added that there was no damage to Freeport's offices in Santiago, nor was anyone hurt at either location.

Freeport's El Abra mine in northern Chile was unaffected by the earthquake, the CEO added.

More than one-fifth of Chile's copper mine capacity was shut after the world's biggest copper producer was hit by a powerful earthquake on Saturday. [nN28135112] (Reporting by Carole Vaporean; Editing by John Picinich)

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