“Nexa Resources halts Peru zinc mine due to blockade” - January 4, 2023

Latin America-focused Nexa Resources (NYSE: NEXA) has halted production at its Atacocha San Gerardo open pit zinc mine in Peru due to a road blockade by a local Machcan community in place since December 27… The zinc producer, controlled by Brazilian holding company Votorantim SA, said the obstruction of the road to access the mine has not have a material impact on Atacocha´s production to date… Nexa noted that, on a weekly basis, Atacocha produces about 200,000 tonnes of zinc — less than 3% of the company’s total zinc production… The company also said that current activities are limited to critical operations with a minimum workforce to ensure proper maintenance, while it engages in an active dialogue with the community and authorities… A wave of protests hit Peru’s major operations in early 2022, including Glencore’s (LON: GLEN) Antapaccay, the country’s sixth largest copper mine. Other operations affected were Southern Copper Corp’s Cuajone mine and MMG’s giant Las Bambas mine, which is the nation’s fourth-largest copper mine and the world’s ninth-largest… Peru is the world’s no. 2 copper producer after Chile and an important producer of zinc...