The Las Bambas copper mine in Peru, owned by China’s MMG, is once again grappling with renewed blockades of a crucial transport route following unsuccessful negotiations regarding donations to local development projects, according to a community leader’s statement on Wednesday.
Peru ranks among the world’s leading copper producers, and Las Bambas, typically accounting for 2% of the global supply, has a history of disruptions due to protests organized by local communities.
Last week, residents of the Velille district in Cusco’s Chumbivilcas province initiated blockades along Peru’s primary mining corridor. However, the protest was temporarily suspended on Tuesday to facilitate discussions with company representatives.
Despite the dialogue, the protest resumed after community members rejected the company’s offer to allocate one million soles ($270,000) annually in 2024 and 2025 for local development programs. This figure represents only half of what the protesters are demanding, leading to a stalemate in negotiations.
The standoff underscores the ongoing tensions between mining companies and local communities over resource extraction and its impact on the environment, livelihoods, and socio-economic development. As stakeholders strive to find common ground, the impasse highlights the complexities inherent in balancing economic interests with environmental and social concerns in resource-rich regions like Peru.