Moquegua: Southern restores water and operations at Cuajone mine

After almost two months of social conflict with the peasant community of Tumilaca-Pocata-Coscore-Tala, Southern Peru resumed its copper operations at the Cuajone mine, located in the district of Torata, province of Mariscal Nieto, Moquegua region. On the morning of Saturday, April 23, the workers started up all the crushing systems, conveyor belts, mills, flotation cells, concentrate thickeners, filters, among others. also restarted the shipment of copper concentrate to the port of Ilo for the relevant processes in Foundry and Refinery.

Also, he achieved resumption of water service for the mining camp, hospital and three local schools. As reported by the company, through a statement, the activities of the towns of Villa Cuajone and Villa Botiflaca are progressively normalizing.

However, the repair work for the damage caused in the Viña Blanca reservoir has not yet been completed. For example, drilling into a concrete wall generates a leak of 46 liters per second of water. Initially, losses were estimated between 15 to 20 liters.

“We regret that the population in our mining camp has been the most affected by this forceful measure. We call on the authorities to make the appropriate efforts so that situations like these are not repeated “Held Raul JacobVice President of Finance of Southern Peru.

Conflict

The peasant community accuses Southern of usurping their land more than 50 years ago. In that sense, he asked for financial compensation and a share in his annual profits. However, the mining company claims to have the permits. Failing to reach an agreement, the community members decided to take over the Viña Blanca reservoir, which feeds 5,000 people from the Cuajone camp, hospital and schools with water. Also, they blocked the railway line through which the copper was transported. For this reason, it paralyzed its mining operations.

The PCM tried to reach agreements between both parties, but the scenario was getting more and more complicated, there were even warnings of confrontations to recover the water resource. In order to avoid violent acts, the declaration of the state of emergency in Marshal Nieto.

After that, the community members lifted their measures of force, handed over the reservoir and signed a document of agreements for a dialog table that solves the problem. The latter is still pending.