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A Peruvian community will block a key mining road used by MMG’s Las Bambas copper mine in protest after failed negotiations with the Andean nation’s government, a community leader told Reuters on Monday.
Victor Limaypuma, the president of the Cotabambas Defence Front, said the blockade would last indefinitely and affect all vehicles crossing the road. Peru is the world’s number two copper producer and Las Bambas is the country’s fourth largest copper mine.
The mine is located in the province of Cotabambas in the Peruvian Andes, where it has faced significant local opposition since it began operating in 2016. Local leaders have blocked the dirt road used by the mine to transport copper, known as the ‘mining corridor’, for more than 300 days since then.
Leaders like Limaypuma say Las Bambas has brought pollution to the area and little in the way of economic development.
Pedro Castillo’s presidency has also raised hopes in the mining regions, where he has won overwhelming support. Castillo wants to extract higher taxes from the miners in part to resolve long-standing tensions with the rural communities that surround them.
The road is a key point of tension, as hundreds of trucks pass through it every day, disrupting the lives of those who live near it.
The blockade comes weeks after Peru’s government reached an agreement with a separate group to avoid blockades that threaten copper production in Las Bambas. The agreement was signed with the province of Chumbivilcas and will allow residents to accept mining work with Las Bambas.
However, the government has yet to sign a similar agreement with the province of Cotabambas, which borders Chumbivilcas.
