Protesters Blockade Las Bambas Mine In Peru

Peru’s Las Bambas copper mine, owned by China’s MMG is facing renewed blockades of a key transport route after failed talks over donations to local development projects, a community leader said on Wednesday.

Peru is one of the world’s top copper producers and Las Bambas, which normally supplies 2% of global supply, has a history of stoppages due to protests organized by local communities.

Last week, residents of the Velille district in Cusco’s Chumbivilcas province began blocking Peru’s main mining corridor but lifted the protest on Tuesday to meet with company representatives.

However, the protest was back on after the community members rejected a company offer to contribute one million soles ($270,000) annually in 2024 and 2025 to local development programs half of what protesters are demanding.

REUTERS/Christopher Ojilere