Southern Copper warns Cuajone mine could temporarily close due to protests

the mexican company Southern Copper warned that the Cuajone mine (Moquegua) could close its operations temporarily, because the peasant community of Tumilaca, Pocata, Coscore and Tala have cut off their access to water as part of their protests.

In a letter sent to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers (PCM), to which this outlet had access, the mining company asks Prime Minister Aníbal Torres to promote a prompt political solution to this conflict.

“We want to avoid declaring the temporary closure of the mine, because this will be detrimental to thousands of families and to the local, regional and national economy.”, reads the letter.

In addition, the company indicated that they are taking actions to mitigate “the serious effects of the violent actions of the group of protesters against the residents of Cuajone”.

willingness to dialogue

In the document that bears the signature of Óscar González Rocha, executive president of Southern Peru, it is also mentioned that the company is willing to dialogue “to build a prompt solution to the sabotage suffered by the Cuajone camp and the operation since February 28”, in which a group of people from the community took over the Viña Blanca water reservoir, which left the mine without access to this service. “They have also blocked and vandalized the company’s railway“, Held.

“Access to water in humanitarian conditions is a human right recognized by the Constitution of Peru. Some residents of the community have been violently violating said human right to the more than 5,000 people who live in the Cuajone camp.”, indicated the mining company, adding that the workers have been without water for more than 30 days.

Economic impact

Regarding the economic effects of this situation, Southern Copper pointed out that the damage is estimated at US$ 5 million per day for exports and S/ 8.5 million per day for taxes and royalties.

“Violent aggression against our operation endangers the fulfillment of our commitments to neighboring communities, suppliers (many of them local companies), strategic partners, shareholders and our more than 1,500 workers and 1,128 contractors.”, he specified.

The peasant community demands an economic compensation of US$ 5,000 million from Southern Peru for access to territory that, according to them, is usurped and a payment of 5% of net profits from the mine.

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