The Minister of Energy and Mines, Carlos Palaciosproposed declaring the mining sector in emergency as a solution to the conflicts between the communities and The Bambaswhich have led to 35 days of stoppage of operations by the company.
“Right now we are presenting a bill where the issue is going to be dealt with, declaring the mining sector in a national emergency, because it is necessary for our mining to have a constant production and we can agree with all those who intervene, especially with the peasant communities. It is a job that we have to start now”, pointed out the head of the Minem in an interview with Successful.
For Carlos Palacios, the main purpose of the emergency declaration would be to provide an “intelligent” solution to the conflicts between the mining companies and the peasant communities. It seeks to “order both parties, in order to find a solution to conflicts.”
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“We are very concerned about our mining, it is necessary to put in order many points that favor the development of our country. That is my concern, the future. Our minerals come out and don’t come back, and if they do come back, they come out with added value. Both national and foreign investment mining must be highly responsible. The more than 7,000 liabilities is the product of poor management throughout our history”he mentioned.
On the other hand, the Minem representative also maintained that part of the mining conflicts is due to the fact that Las Bambas has not complied with the agreements made with the community.
“So far, the mining companies are not complying with the agreements, that is why there are these problems. If necessary, mining contracts have to be reviewed and renegotiated”, Palacios specifies.
It is worth mentioning that the dispute between the mining company MMG Las Bambas and Southern Peru with the respective communities of the locality where they operate, are not the only problems that the official faces, since he has received criticism from important personalities in the mining sector, such as Roque Benavides, of including in his ministerial portfolio people who “have no recognition in the area”, as well as that of various congressmen who accuse him of putting the professional management of the Petroperú company at risk.
