The National Society of Mining, Petroleum and Energy (SNMPE) condemned and rejected the acts of violence recorded in the province of Mariscal Nieto – Moquegua, where groups of people have been carrying out illegal and unjustified acts of force, forcing the operations of the Southern Peru company’s Cuajone mine to be paralyzed and affecting the right to water of the approximately 5,000 people who live in the mining camp.
The energy mining union reported that the community’s claim began as a result of the replacement by the company of the pipe that supplies water to the Cuajone mine since 1976.
On February 10, residents of the peasant community of Tumilaca, Pocata, Coscore and Tala blocked the railway from Southern Peru at the height of the R2 tunnel, preventing until now the transfer of copper production from the Cuajone mine to the port of Ilo and the supply of materials through the industrial railway that the company operates in this area.
Later, he added, in the early hours of Monday, February 28, a group of community members stormed the Viña Blanca reservoir facilities and blocked the water supply to the mining operation and the Cuajone camp where 5,000 people live, including workers and their families. .
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The business association warned that they are facing the arbitrary, illegal and unfounded claim of a group from this community that, in order to lift the forceful measures, demand US$ 5,000 million from the mining company and a permanent payment of 5% of their profits.
It also cited that on Thursday, March 10, members of the National Police, in coordination with the company’s security personnel, intervened in the Viña Blanca facilities to release the water valve with the aim of guaranteeing order and the health of the workers and your families. However, a few hours later, a violent mob retook Viña Blanca, proceeding to once again block Cuajone’s water supply.
“The life and health of 5,000 Peruvians is at serious risk due to the violent action of these groups that have once again cut off the drinking water supply of the Cuajone mine, since the houses and even the hospital that are located in the mining camp are suffering from lack of water. There is no claim that justifies this violence.” said Raúl Jacob, president of the SNMPE.
He indicated that due to these events, the Cuajone mining unit has been forced to stop its productive activities for 15 days. “In these days of paralysis, more than 7,000 tons of copper have stopped producing, causing serious damage not only to the company but to the national and regional economy, since revenues from canon and royalties are allowed to be received for about S / 2.5 million. and more than S/ 6 million in income tax, per day of stoppage. All this occurs at a time when Peru and the Moquegua region should take advantage of these resources to reactivate their economy and benefit from the good prices of metals”, commented.
The SNMPE he exhorted the Government to take the measures granted by the Constitution and the laws to restore public order and social peace; protect the fundamental rights of people and business activity; and guarantee that any controversy is resolved through dialogue and respecting the current legal framework.
Finally, he warned that the conflict around the Cuajone mine joins that of the mining company The Bambas, that has been blocked for almost a month so far in 2022. This recurrent conflict, which has been affecting the mining and energy sector in the last year, is negatively impacting national production and the investment climate necessary for the development of the US$53,000 million mining projects in portfolio.
