Southern Copper mining project attacked in Peru, leaving 20 injured

While companies seek to protect their investments and ensure worker safety, the government faces the challenge of finding solutions that balance economic development with social inclusion and sustainability in the mining sector.

A group of informal miners attacked the facilities of the Los Chancas exploration project, operated by Southern Copper Corp., leaving at least 20 workers and security guards injured. A company representative confirmed the incident on Monday.

Violence in the Mining Sector

Images circulating on social media show the mining camp in flames, reminiscent of a similar incident in 2022 when the facility was burned down. The New York-listed company stated that it is preparing an official statement, while authorities have already launched investigations into the attack.

Context of Informal Mining in Peru

Peru is one of the world's leading producers of gold and copper, metals whose high market value has driven the proliferation of informal mining. The use of new extraction techniques and a temporary registry for formalization have fueled this activity, creating tensions with major mining companies holding concessions in the region.

Despite the conflicts, informal mining enjoys considerable political support due to the number of jobs it generates in economically vulnerable areas. However, incidents like the attack on Los Chancas reignite the debate on regulating this sector and ensuring security in the mining industry.

Authorities on Alert

The Peruvian government has reiterated its commitment to addressing the issue of informal mining and its impact on the extractive sector. Measures to strengthen security in mining projects affected by violence and land invasions are expected to be announced in the coming days.