Executive expedites environmental procedures for mining exploration activities

The Ministry of Energy and Mines (Minem) modified this Thursday, November 23, the Environmental protection regulations for mining exploration activities, and in this way expedite procedures for the sector.

Through the Supreme Decree No. 028-2023-EM Title VII and the Fifth Final Complementary Provision are incorporated into the Environmental Protection Regulation for Mining Exploration Activities.

The new addition pallows simultaneous processing of the environmental management instrument in matters of mining exploration and the enabling titles in matters of water resources.

Thus, it is specified that the enabling titles in matters of water resources, in charge of the National Water Authority (ANA)for the development of mining exploration projects that can be processed simultaneously are the following:

• Authorization for water use.
• Accreditation of water availability for authorization of water use, if applicable.
• Authorization for the execution of water use works for authorization of water use, if applicable.
• Authorization for the execution of works on natural assets associated with water and multi-sector hydraulic infrastructure, such as crossings, speed bumps, sewers and installations of measuring instruments.
• Authorization of discharges of treated wastewater into natural bodies of water.
• Authorization for reuse of treated wastewater.

In addition, it is indicated that the mining owner may choose to process, simultaneously with the evaluation procedure of the environmental management instrument, all or some of the enabling titles regarding water resources under the responsibility of the ANA required for the development of the exploration project. .

The legal device is endorsed by the Minister of Energy and Mines, the Minister of the Environment and the Minister of Agrarian Development and Irrigation.