Operations Resume at Uchucchacua Mine in Peru


Compañia de Minas Buenaventura, Peru’s largest publicly traded precious metals mining company, reported that its Uchucchacua mine has resumed operations. A task force, “mesa de trabajo,” was established on November 3 by the Office of Social Affairs of the Ministry of Energy and Mines with the participation of other public offices, including representatives from the Prime Minister’s office, to end the conflict and resume negotiations with the Oyon community. It removed the roadblock, which was preventing Buenaventura’s team from entering the Uchucchacua mine site. Normal operations at Uchucchacua resumed on November 4.

The Oyon community allegedly adopted a more aggressive negotiating position related to Buenaventura’s use of lands by its Uchucchacua mine. This act, according to Buenaventura, did not acknowledge an agreement previously established between the Oyon community and Buenaventura, which was signed in the 1970s. Threats by community leaders resulted in a work stoppage in Uchucchacua’s production, which began on October 31, the date on which the plant’s scheduled planned preventive maintenance had concluded.


As featured in Womp 2017 Vol 12 - www.womp-int.com