Local residents from the Peruvian community of Uchucarcco, mobilized on Monday morning (November 19) near the Constancia mining project to protest Hudbay Mineral’s sustained failure to make good on commitments with the local population, according to a press release of the activist group, Mining Watch Canada.’
” According to local media, a group of residents crossed the company’s security fence. Two individuals were detained by the significant police force that protects the camp,” says the release on the group’s website.
The community is calling for an end of the company’s mining contract, and demands the withdrawal of the company and the return of its communal land.
According to Mining Watch Canada “Constancia is one of the most important copper projects in Peru. It’s estimated that the company will begin operations in the early months of 2015.”
According to the Hudbay Minerals website: “The project remains on track for first concentrate production in the fourth quarter of 2014 and commercial production in the second quarter of 2015.”
In 2012, Reuters news agency quoted Hudbay’s President David Garofalo as saying the company had kept a low profile to get support of the local community.
“We stayed focused on the people that are affected and tried not to create too much of a profile for us across Peru,” Garofalo said. “Because outsiders and interlopers get involved and they can disrupt our engagement with communities.”
More information:
Mining Watch Canada – Peruvian Community Denounces HudBay Minerals for Human Rights Violations over Constancia Project – here
Hudbay website – Constancia project – here
Reuters – Keeping low “profile” helps Canadian miner gain approval in Peru – here
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