Mining businessmen and Confiep threaten to prosecute the closure of mines

The representatives of the mining companies Apumayo, Alone and Ares Mining Company announced that they will go to the last legal instances to thwart the scheduled closure of their Inmaculada and Pallancata mines, located in the headwaters of the Cora Cora communities in Ayacucho.

In a press conference organized by Confiep and the SNMPE, the mining businessmen maintained that the decision to initiate this closure process was taken “unilaterally” by the Presidency of the Council of Ministers (PCM), without having previously informed the respect.

In this sense, they urged the head of the PCM, Mirtha Vásquez, to reconsider the dialogue table with the residents of Cora Cora, who in recent weeks also complied with demonstrations denouncing the contamination of its tributaries.

“We reiterate our request to the Government and its competent authorities, to provide legal guarantees to establish responsible communication channels that allow an objective dialogue table that will lead us to peaceful solutions,” the company said.

“We call on the Prime Minister to clarify to public opinion the real scope of the act signed in Cora Cora and, in addition, reconsider the illegal position adopted,” he said for his part Hochschild, a subsidiary of Ares, in a statement.

Mirtha Vásquez: closure was scheduled

The day before, Prime Minister Mirtha Vásquez stated that mining operations that already have a planned closing date must do so properly and in compliance with the standards and deadlines of the law.

“The recovery of the basin is our signed commitment to the south of Ayacucho. It does not mean unilateral closure, ”he affirmed from Huamanga.

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In addition, he explained that the headwaters of the basin are delicate ecosystems that provide water to the territories. That is why we have, for what they have agreed, together with authorities and leaders of the provinces of Parinacochas, Lucanas and Páucar del Sara Sara, measures to protect them from contamination.

“We agreed to create a commission to negotiate the withdrawal and closure of four mining units, visits to affected areas and meetings with mining companies. Also, delimitation of basin headwaters and environmental evaluation to identify sources of contamination, “he noted.

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Meanwhile, the National Water Authority (ANA) reported that the basin delimitation process could probably be completed in February. That is a fundamental step because they will be able to have the headwaters of the basin designated as a vulnerable area.

What is Apumayo?

• The Apumayo Mining Project has gold and silver minerals. It is located in the districts of Chaviña and Sancos, Lucanas province, Ayacucho department in Peru.