Peru: The two biggest mining projects in the country are in clash with local communities
"FRAGILE TRUCE AT LAS BAMBAS BUT NEW CONFLICT OPENS AT CUAJONE", 26 March 2022
...Two major projects in the mining sector are currently in trouble...
The various conflicts between the Las Bambas mine, owned by MMG (China), and nearby communities have reached a fragile truce. The communities of Urinsaya in Espinar province, Cuzco, and Chuicuni in Apurímac agreed on 23 March to a 30-day truce in their blockade of the southern mining corridor, the road leading from the mine to the port on the Pacific. The community of Urinsaya, having rejected various proposals of proposals made by the state and the company, say it will now “continue conversations” with both parties.
MMG Las Bambas also reached an agreement with the Chuicuni community...
Another meeting of the dialogue table had been agreed with Urinsaya for 24 March, with the communities seeking the presence of the companies’ manager of community relations. According to an account reported in La República, the meeting agreed to suspend the road block pending a further round of negotiations with representatives from the company and the prime minister’s office...
The second major project in trouble is Cuajone, owned by Southern Peru. The mine has not operated since 28 February. The communities there have stopped water necessary for production getting through. They are also blockading the railway leading to the mine...
On 20 March, the company announced imminent success in re-starting dialogue, but by the following day Tumilaca and other communities were announcing the agreement reached to be “a farce” and that they would not resume discussions until the mining company had stopped all legal proceedings taken against them....