ESG

Peru miners feeling community heat

Communities in rural Peru, empowered by having a national president they believe represents their interests, are turning up the heat on mining companies which they feel don’t deliver on their commitments.

 Apumayo Mining installations in flames in Ayacucho in Peru

Apumayo Mining installations in flames in Ayacucho in Peru

The Apumayo mining company in Ayacucho saw its installations put to the torch after being invaded by community members from the Chaviña, Cora Cora and Sancos areas as an anti-mining protest got out of hand, reported Gestion.

The SNMPE National Society of Mining, Oil and Energy, which represents the mining sector, said many protesters demand measures to restrict mining in the headwaters of a basin, ignoring that such areas are already protected by the water resources law.

"We see an intolerable violation of the state of law that puts the lives of workers and the population at great risk, as well as as well as to public and private property," said executive director Pablo de la Flor.

Commenting on Twitter, Alex Black, president and CEO of Rio2, whose technical team is based in Peru and who previously successfully developed two mines in northern Peru for Rio Alto Mining, said "People in the sierra of Peru now feel empowered by the communist government to take matters into their own hands when they don't agree with mine owners."

Elsewhere in Peru, miners are also feeling the wrath of communities which are increasingly cutting off access with blockades, threatening to put a chokehold on some 40% of the countries copper production 2 million tonnes per year.

BHP and Glencore suspended operations at the Antamina mine in Ancash on Sunday.

Antamina, one of the largest copper mines in the country, has seen its access roads blocked. "We don't want to wait until something happens that puts at risk the physical integrity of anybody. ... We think it is necessary for the government and its authorities to act to re-establish order," the company said.

Glencore has also seen a blockade at its Antapaccay copper mine as has Hudbay Minerals at its Constancia operation. Blockades are also impacting MMG's Las Bambas mine, although the operation has suffered blockades pretty much since its operations commenced.

However, the protests are as much directed towards president Pedro Castillo as the miners, reminding him of his election promises to improve their lot should they vote for him.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the farming sector, brought to you by the Kondinin team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the farming sector, brought to you by the Kondinin team.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence Investor Sentiment Report 2024

Survey revealing the plans, priorities, and preferences of 120+ mining investors and their expectations for the sector in 2024.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence Mining Equities Report 2023

Access an exclusive, inside look on the quarterly mining IPOs and secondary raisings data and mining equities performance tables with an annual Stock Exchange Comparisons supplement.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence World Risk Report 2023 (feat. MineHutte ratings)

A detailed analysis of mining investment risks across 121 jurisdictions globally, built on 11 ‘hard risk’ metrics and an industrywide survey.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence Global Leadership Report 2023: Social licence

Gain insights into social licence trends and best practices from interviews with 20+ top mining company executives and an industrywide survey.