Las Bambas: mining company announces shutdown since February due to conflicts

Through a statement, MMG Limited (MMG) announced a possible suspension of copper production in mining Las Bambaslocated in the area Apurimacfrom 1 February.

The decision was made due to the blockade that began after the release of the coup leader from office. Pedro Castillo. At the end of this article, Apurimac alone had two closures at km 261-263 and km 290-291 of the South Coast Longitudinal Highway.

“Following transport disruptions that affected both inbound and outbound traffic, the company was forced to initiate a gradual slowdown of its operations in Las Bambas due to a shortage of critical supplies. If the situation does not change, the mine will not be able to continue producing copper from February 1, 2023.”, advertising.

On this occasion, former Minister of Economy David Tuesta recalled that the production of this mine accounts for 78% of the production of the Apurimac region.

In this region, 3 out of 10 Peruvians live in poverty. This is the third place in terms of molybdenum and the fourth in terms of copper mining; In addition, it ranks second in the production of starchy corn, third in the production of quinoa, and seventh in the production of potatoes.

Participation of Las Bambas in Apurímac

According to the regional trade report for the first half of last year, prepared by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourismthe Las Bambas copper project has tripled the size of Apurima’s economy.

Between 2015 and 2021 alone, the department’s GDP grew from $1,000 million to $3,000 million.

“75,000 families depend on direct workindirect and induced, created by Las Bambas, as well as small and medium-sized entrepreneurs from Apurimac and Cusco, who make up the value chain,” said David Tuesta.

In addition, each stop day is valued at S$3,200,000 million in royalties and mining canon. while the state also stops collecting SGD 5,200,000 million daily; In addition, a drop of $9.5 million was recorded.

protests in the camps

MMG Limited also clarified that it has “mobilized the site’s security team and the property is safe.”
However, the conflicts that have been going on throughout South Road Corridor This also affected other companies. In that mountain village of the Anabi companylocated in the same area, the remains of two dead were found after the attack of the criminals who set fire to the unit.
Recall that on January 12, it was reported that protesters entered the camp of the mining company Antapaccay in the province of Espinar, Cusco region, and burned a truck and a minibus, RPP Noticias sources confirmed.