Government affirms desire for Tía María to become viable

A new edition of the Perumin 36 mining convention began yesterday in Arequipa. Although there was much speculation in the anteroom about the arrival of the President of the Republic, Dina Boluarte, this ultimately did not happen. Representing the Government was the head of the Ministry of Energy and Mines (Minem), Óscar Vera Gargurevich, who inaugurated the activity.

“I want to confirm that it is not true that there is an anti-mining population or enemies of investment, but quite the opposite. Peru is a friendly country and provides the best facilities for investing in all areas,” said the official at the inauguration.

This in a context in which in the Arequipa region there is a sector of the population that rejects the Tía María mining project of the Southern mining company. Even yesterday, a group of protesters from the Tambo Valley, where the project is intended to be developed, arrived in the city to express their rejection.

Wishes for Aunt Maria

After the inauguration, Vera toured the Extemin technology fair together with the directors of Perumin, the Institute of Mining Engineers of Peru and the regional authorities and then inaugurated a stand of Minem. There he was consulted about the viability of the Tía María copper project. Given this, the minister made it clear that the Government’s desire is for this to go, but in harmony with the population of the area.

“Tía María is a very important project for the country. The wishes we have are for it to be realizedsince it generates a lot of work and investment. But in fact that has to be in accordance with the people who are the owners of the land, who must coordinate and give approval to that,” he said in relation to its viability.

This is the position of the Executive led by Dina Boluarte. It should be noted that in the 2021 presidential campaign, the then candidate Pedro Castillo and Dina Boluarte, as well as the Peru Libre candidates for Congress, signed a commitment document against the Tía María project if they became the Government.

For the head of Minem, it is now necessary that any project developed in the country has to contemplate dialogue between authorities, communities and the industry. So he hopes that this agreement will happen, because “Peru needs work and development,” he said.

On the other hand, the mining convention This year, at least 70,000 participants are expected to attend. The president of Perumin 36, Miguel Cardozo, said that they expect a contribution in the economy regional of S/100,000. Likewise, he noted that the next edition will be held in 2025.

It is important to mention that the arrival of the president of the Council of Ministers, Alberto Otárola, is scheduled for today.

“It is important to promote other economic sectors”

For the regional governor of Arequipa, Rohel Sánchez, as long as the water problem in the province of Islay is not solved, the viability of the Tía María project cannot be put on the agenda. Furthermore, he considers that other activities should be promoted economic.

“It is also important to promote other economic sectors related to agriculture, everything that has to do with tourism and the technology that corresponds to the province of Islay,” said Sánchez.

It is worth mentioning that about 250 people marched in Arequipa against the Tía María mining project and President Dina Boluarte.

Reactions

Óscar Vera, Minister of Energy and Mines

“We hope that there is an agreement with the communities and that the investment (of Aunt Maria) occurs because Peru needs work and development. Always in accordance with the communities.”

Rohel Sánchez, regional governor of Arequipa

“In the specific case of Tía María, we have been clear. As long as we do not solve the water problem in the province of Islay, these issues cannot be addressed.”