The head of the Ministry of Energy and Mines (Minem), Jorge Montero, announced that the construction of the Tía María project will begin in August or September of this year. During his presentation on the Mining Thursday of the Institute of Mining Engineers of Peru (IIMP) and in an interview for the Mining Dialogues program, he said that the project “advances very well in social issues and its capacity for social involvement is on the right track.”
However, his statements contrast with reality. Since February 17, hundreds of protesters of the South Region Macro (Puno, Arequipa and Tacna) have demanded the definitive cancellation of the project under the motto “Agro yes, mine no”.
Aunt María Project: What do protesters demand?
According to the most recent bulletin shared by the Melgar-Puno fighting committee, the indefinite unemployment of the town of Valle del Tambo against the Aunt María and La Capada projects, of the company Southern Copper of the Mexico Grouprequires the following:
- Definitive cancellation of the Aunt María – La Capada project.
- Culmination of the South Andean gas pipeline.
- Repeal of Legislative Decree 1620 and other regulations that privatize water.
- Repeal of Law 32242, which establishes the automatic dismissal of teachers, directors, auxiliaries and administrative.
- Implementation of one treatment plantmeasures for compensation and closing of mining companies that contaminate the Llallimayo basin in Melgar.
A long data conflict
The former Minister of Environmental Management, José de Echave, expressed concern to the Republic for the struggle that the settlers have held for years, noting that the Government of Dina Boluarte is not characterized by its willingness to dialogue against social conflicts.
“Load a backpack of violence and death,” said Echave. “Peru has lived in the last 25 years several social conflicts linked to mining, with very worrying balances.”
Three governments have tried to boost the project, not only for its magnitude, but also for its low production cost and the high current price of copper. For the former Vice Minister, the political incidence of Southern Copper It is giving results.
“We have not been heard by the president, although she signed a commitment to review the project and pardon those sentenced,” said Miguel Meza, spokesman for the Valle del Tambo fight, to this newspaper.
Several of his fellow protesters have been sentenced for up to seven years in prison for crimes such as road lock, extortion and disturbances, among others. There are even young people who, since 2011, They live with a bullet in the body. In that sense, Meza said that The fight has been criminalized and that the protesters remain loyal to the martyrs of the strikes of 2011 and 2015.
“There is no forgiveness or forgetfulness for Southern,” Meza said.
He also reported that the company, through third parties, maintains Aunt María Aunt Maria where they are held illegal activities.
It should be remembered that, in 2009, the Tambo Valley made a popular consultation through local mayors, in which 96.7% of the population voted against the Tía María project.
Environmental and employment impact
One of the key points in the debate on Aunt María is the uncertainty regarding the validity of her Environmental Impact Study (EIA). This was approved on August 1, 2014, during the Government of Ollanta Humala, and, according to current regulations, its validity is five years.
“How is an EIA approved more than a decade
On the other hand, Southern Copper Corp. updated the budget of the Tía María A project US $ 1,802 million. According to the IIMP, until December 31, 2024, the company has generated more than 614 jobsof which 492 have been occupied by local workers.
However, the generation of employment in mining is concentrated in the construction phase, while in the productive phase the number of jobs decreases considerably. In addition, jobs at this stage usually require high specialization, which makes access to the local population difficult.
In contrast, agriculture, which is the main economic activity of the Tambo Valleyprovides a constant and accessible employment for the inhabitants of the area. Therefore, farmers fear that the impact of the mining project affects their lands and water sources, putting their livelihood and economic balance of the region at risk.
Source: Larepublica
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