Major Peru mine project "on backburner":PM
Major Peru mine project “on backburner”: PM
AUGUST 24, 2012 BY 0 COMMENTS
Celendin, Peru, near the Conga project (photo: Paula Dupraz)
GENEVA / LIMA, PERU – A controversial mining project “is on the back burner”, Peruvian Prime Minister Juan Jimenez said Thursday 23 August, a day after a survey showed that most residents in the northern province of Cajamarca opposed the mine.
Jimenez became prime minister last month after the previous cabinet was disbanded by President President Ollanta Humala following deadly protests against US mining firm Newmont’s Conga project.
The new PM has encouraged regional authorities to help end protests and to work towards developing the region and pulling it out of recession.
The $4.8 billion Conga project, an expansion of the existing 251km2 Yanacocha open pit mine, has faced opposition from locals who fear contamination and depletion of water sources in the mountainous region.
A survey conducted by polling firm Ipsos Apoyo, and published in newspaper El Comercioshowed this week that 78 percent of Cajamarca residents were opposed to the mine.
A two-day strike against the project took place in Cajamarca Tuesday 20 and Wednesday 21 August.
Last week, Newmont’s CEO Richard O’Brien said that Conga “remains within our plans but moving ahead at a measured basis”. The project represents one of the largest investments ever in Peru. It is 51.35 percent held by Newmont and 43.65 percent held by Peruvian mining giant Buenaventura.
Paula Dupraz is reporting from Peru for GenevaLunch.com
