Fresh opposition to Southern Copper’s billion-dollar project in Peru
Southern Copper Corp (NYSE:SCCO), the world’s fifth largest producer of the red metal in terms of output, is once again facing community opposition to its long-delayed $1.4 billion Tia Maria copper project in Arequipa, southern Peru.
Southern Copper Corp (NYSE:SCCO), the world’s fifth largest producer of the red metal in terms of output, is once again facing community opposition to its long-delayed $1.4 billion Tia Maria copper project in Arequipa, southern Peru.
Tia Maria has been derailed twice – in 2011 and 2015 – because of deadly protests by farmers.
Farmers from the Tambo Valley in central Arequipa began an indefinite strike on Monday to protest the imminent construction of the open-pit copper mine. They also blocked a portion of the country’s main coastal highway to obstruct access to the mine site.
While the blockade has now been lifted, opponents continue to press the government to revoke the construction permit awarded to Southern Copper only a week ago, local paper El Comercio reports.
Tia Maria has been derailed twice – in 2011 and 2015 – because of deadly protests by farmers who fear the proposed open-pit mine will damage crops and affect water supplies in the southern region of Arequipa.
“Agro yes, mining no,” was chanted by hundreds of local farmers who took to the streets to defend about 1,300 hectares of cropland they think will be affected by the mine.
The protests against the massive project echo other fights between anti-mining groups, farmers and mining companies in Peru over the last few years. Most of them centre around who gets to use precious water supplies in the country’s bone-dry areas.
Southern Copper estimates that Tia Maria will produce 120,000 tonnes of copper a year during an estimated 20-year lifespan.
source: MINING.COM
Top News
Five last month
Two last year
US Energy Dept finalizes $2.26bn loan for Lithium Americas’ Nevada mine
Abandoned copper mines embraced as fast track to boost output
Solidcore to buy 55% stake in Kazakhstan’s Syrymbet tin deposit for $82.5m
Mercuria eyes equity in African assets, new metals boss says
Glencore posts lower metals output for first nine months, reiterates outlook
Gold price surge adds glitter to tarnished miners
Traders see gold as a surefire bet as coin-toss election looms
Anglo American sells Australian coal JV stake for $1.1 billion
Gold price shows little reaction to jobs data
St Barbara raises $73m to fast-track Simberi sulphide production
Copper price sees biggest drop since May as Trump’s win boosts dollar
Sibanye agrees wage deal for its gold operations, union says
China’s industry ministry plans to step up lithium, cobalt, nickel exploration
Liberty Gold advances Black Pine project permitting
China zinc smelter group sets processing fees for Q1 2025
Brazil prepares to remove illegal Amazon gold miners from Munduruku land
Anglo American sells Australian coal JV stake for $1.1 billion
Solidcore to buy 55% stake in Kazakhstan’s Syrymbet tin deposit for $82.5m
Ecuador to reopen mining register for first time in over six years
St Barbara raises $73m to fast-track Simberi sulphide production
Copper price sees biggest drop since May as Trump’s win boosts dollar
Sibanye agrees wage deal for its gold operations, union says
China’s industry ministry plans to step up lithium, cobalt, nickel exploration
China zinc smelter group sets processing fees for Q1 2025
Brazil prepares to remove illegal Amazon gold miners from Munduruku land
Anglo American sells Australian coal JV stake for $1.1 billion
Solidcore to buy 55% stake in Kazakhstan’s Syrymbet tin deposit for $82.5m
Ecuador to reopen mining register for first time in over six years