Previously, the mining industry reported on the news regarding the suspension of operations at the Las Bambas mine in Peru: "Why is the world's 9th largest copper mine suspended?" The latest developments indicate that negotiations are not optimistic so far.

On December 15, MINING.COM reported that the Prime Minister of Peru stated,the roadblocks affecting the Las Bambas copper mine will not "last much longer."

On December 16, MMG disclosed,the ongoing dialogue between the mine and the Chumbivilcas community has still not been successful, and as of December 18, 2021 (Peru time), Las Bambas will be unable to continue producing copper.

It is understood that the Prime Minister stated,the 26-day roadblock affecting the Las Bambas copper mine cannot "last much longer" as negotiations with the local community continue to be at a standstill, and the mine may face closure.

"These dialogues can sometimes be prolonged because reaching a consensus is not easy," Prime Minister Mirtha Vasquez told reporters regarding the conflict. "But this situation cannot last too long."

Chumbivilcas province is located on the route from the Las Bambas mine to the shipping port, where a road for transporting ore passes through. Local residents believe that the mine's goods should benefit the communities around the road. Residents of the province have been blocking the road since November 20, demanding that the mine provide them with job opportunities and greater economic contributions.

According to MINING, Las Bambas proposed to pay each community 100,000 soles (Peruvian currency, approximately $24,700) annually, but local residents were dissatisfied with this request.

MMG's latest announcement shows that as of December 16, the ongoing dialogue with the Chumbivilcas community has still not been successful, and no solution has been reached to remove the roadblocks, leading to the depletion of critical supplies for the mine.Due to continued disruptions in logistics, as of December 18, 2021 (Peru time), Las Bambas will be unable to continue producing copper. The expected copper concentrate output as of December 18, 2021, is approximately 290,000 tons. The mine's current inventory is about 60,770 tons of copper concentrate.

MMG stated that the company's primary focus remains on ensuring the health, safety, and security of employees, contractors, and community members. The company continues to call for the immediate removal of roadblocks to enable transparent, open, and constructive dialogue. The company is committed to working closely with the Peruvian government and community members to reach a lasting agreement.

Source: Mining Industry