Social conflicts are reactivated in the lrsd mining corridor

The social conflicts have been quickly reactivated in the Su Mining Corridorr, route that crosses Apurímac, Cusco and Arequipa. Three communities of Espinar started a protest against Antapaccay for having terminated the contract with their companies that provided cleaning services, and two from Velille, in Chumbivilcas, blocked the corridor demanding that the mining MMG Las Bambas keep your commitments to do works.

The national government and the mining companies reacted and went to both areas to deactivate the social conflicts. In Espinar, dialogue was started between the communities and Antapaccay. The next meeting will be on October 26 in which the new business proposal of the mining at communal enterprises.

On Thursday, the leaders of the communities of Tuntuma and Hatun Collana (Velille) spoke with representatives of the MMG Las Bambas mining company, Ministry of Energy and Mines and others. Tuntuma reached an agreement. Las Bambas will deliver 700 thousand soles each year, two tractors and oat seeds. While Hatun Ccollana still does not accept the proposal. The agreement was to wait for the document of the mining and his signature next Thursday. While they unlocked the road corridor.

The regional prefect of Cusco, Julio Hancco, considered the results of the dialogue positive. “Let’s hope that now other problems do not arise in other communities,” he said.

Your concern is reasonable. The Southern Mining Corridor, where MMG Las Bambas, Hudbay Peru and Antapaccay remove minerals for export, it is a scene of permanent conflict. According to the latest report from the Ombudsman’s Office, as of September, the Cusco region registers 20 social conflicts, 16 active and four latent. Eight of these have to do with bad relationships with mining. While, in Apurímac, where there is 15 social conflicts, five are linked to said extractive activity.

The constant closure of runner generates millionaire losses by tourism sector. Last year, due to the blockade for more than 100 days, Las Bambas produced more than 20 thousand metric tons of copper. Another quantity stops generating the Constancia de Hudbay mine and Antapaccay de Glencore. However, mining companies are very reluctant to talk about economic losses, because “that would also imply revealing the millions they earn each day,” says an Antapaccay worker, who requested anonymity.

The difficult task of resolving conflicts

The regional prefect, Julio Hancco, said that the difficulty in resolving the conflicts is due to the multiplicity of demands. In addition, he maintains that the dialogue tables were suspended because of the pandemic and that became a nuisance for the communities and their authorities. Another factor that contributes to the high conflict in the area, according to Hancco, is the use of lawsuits for electoral purposes.

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