In February 2024, Antamina obtained the modification of the Environmental Impact Study (MEIA). This includes investments of about US $ 2,000 million in environmental, social and operational goals, such as the use of renewable energy and the improvement of water resources management.
Claudia Cooper, vice president of sustainability and external issues of the mining company, expresses its absolute commitment to the region and Peru with these words: “If a sustainable relationship with the environment is not achieved, simply the operation does not exist.”
What does the modification of the environmental impact study granted to Antamina mean?
The company already allows them to continue with the operation for eight more years. This implies expanding the installed capacity of the operation and maintaining the resources we leave in the region and also in the country until 2036.
What impact does the Operation of Antamina have on the economy of Ancash and Peru?
Antamina is a very large company and leaves a lot in resources, 50% stays in the region. Not only through taxes that have been translating into works of health, education, irrigation, roads, etc., but we also make a lot of direct investment in our surrounding communities. We finance health scholarships, small irrigation projects, sanitation. That generates movement in the area and also development. Not only in infrastructure, but in human capital and the local business sector. Due to the dimensions of Antamina the impact moves the needle.
I read that thanks to the presence of Antamina about 30 thousand people in the area of influence of the project have ceased to be poor.
It is not only because of the direct influence of Antamina, but for indirect factors. There is a local business sector that has begun to develop and the idea is that this is sustainable and that the day that Antamina is no longer the region has the ability to generate its own income and is much more diversified. That is something we are also pointing to. In addition, one thing is to get out of monetary poverty and another is to achieve public services that allow the independence of the Ancashina population of a single mining project.
Antamina also occupies the first place in the ranking of works for taxes (Oxi).
Our idea is to continue, but also diversify the intervention. When conceiving a project we have to understand it integrally, that is how to operate, how it will be maintained, what is the associated current expense. It is necessary to generate technical capacity in those institutions that receive a very important amount of fee such as the Regional Government or the Municipality of San Marcos, so that public works is also a quality public works and we can use the resources in the best way. Not only the private sector has to do a job to generate infrastructure, but also to train the public sector so that it can do it. And both works must have a position of position.
Are there new sectors where you would like to enter through the OXI mechanism?
We have been very ambitious in the subject in hospitals and also in education. We are now interested in the tracks. Anta airport was something that changed regional competitiveness. Now that airport has to connect with the rest of the region. Both the roads and the security issues are those that we plan to raise the presence in the public works portfolio a bit. And also consolidate what we have already done, hospitals, schools, irrigation. We have to ensure that they give the service for which they were built. We want our works to end up giving indicators of human development that change the photo of Áncash to the future.
How does Antamina handle the relationship with the regional and local government?
It is a day -to -day relationship and it is not necessarily easy because politics is not easy, they are horizons of different times. But it is a relationship that is always there and is already more than 20 years old. We coordinate in pursuit of the community because both institutions demand results. That is the most valuable of the relationship, it is a long -term commitment. The relationship is with the leaders, the mayors, the governors, but also with their teams.
Next year Antamina turns 25, what are the learning?
Not only have we learned on operational issues, but also in environmental and social issues because the world is changing. So, we have to learn and also update with respect to the new global trends of all kinds. The demands are increasing, transparency begins to be an absolutely key issue in the relationship with the authorities and communities. It is a tripartite issue, community, state and company, to define which is the future we want for the region, which has a potential infinity.
Is it true that at 2036 an investment of US $ 2,000 million is planned?
Exactly. We will expand the installed capacity of the current operation. That implies growing the dumps, the relay, the mining components to continue operating eight more years. The authorizations for construction have already been given, we are starting that process.
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