Southern Copper reported 20 injuries from an attack by informal miners at its Los Chancas project in Peru. The assault caused significant damage, echoing a similar attack in 2022. The rise of informal mining is attributed to high metal prices, despite its undermining of legal mining operations.
Southern Copper Corp. reported that 20 individuals were injured during an attack by informal miners at the Los Chancas exploration project in southern Peru. The assault impacted both workers and security personnel at the site. Social media posts depicted the mining camp engulfed in flames, drawing parallels to a similar incident in 2022. The company is currently preparing an official statement as local authorities begin investigations into the attack.
Peru is a significant global supplier of gold and copper, leading to an increase in informal mining operations attracted by soaring prices and newly introduced formalization processes. These operations sometimes infringe on land owned by larger mining firms. Despite these illegal activities, informal mining enjoys substantial political backing in Peru due to the employment opportunities it creates in economically disadvantaged regions.
Southern Copper Corp. is facing repercussions from an attack on its mining facilities in Peru, resulting in injuries to 20 people. This incident highlights ongoing tensions between informal miners and larger mining companies in the region, which are further complicated by the economic significance of informal mining in providing jobs in impoverished communities. Investigations are underway as the impact of these altercations continues to unfold.
Original Source: www.mining.com
