MMG Ltd. reported today, September 30, that community road blockades in Peru’s Chumbivilcas province that had been impacting the company’s Las Bambas copper mine have been temporarily lifted. The blockades were preventing miners and supplies from reaching the operation and limiting the mine’s ability to ship concentrate to port.
“To date, production has not been significantly impacted and concentrate trucking, people and re-supply logistics are under way,” MMG CEO Gao Xiaoyu said. “MMG is committed to pursuing constructive dialog with the government and community representatives to reach an enduring agreement.”
The blockade was established by villagers on the Corredor Vial Sur (South Road Corridor) highway, about 200 km from the Las Bambas mine. The protests related to community demands for logistic transport contracts as well as inclusion of the communities as an area of direct influence for social development funding from the Las Bambas mine. The blockades started on September 10 and were maintained at various points for 19 days. In addition to obstructing the mine, the blockades prevented more than 6,000 people from reaching their homes.
