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Peru's Fight For Water
By Ronald j. Morgan
May 2012
http://www.zcommunications.org/perus-fight-for-water-by-ronald-j-morgan
Peru’s 13-year economic expansion is attributed largely to the country’s mining resources. High prices for precious metals have sent export earnings soaring and pushed growth rates to historic highs. Over the next decade, $50 billion in new mining investments are planned. So far, only 10 to 12 percent of the potential mining area has been explored. The inflow of multi-billion dollar investments has given transnational mining companies a huge influence over the country’s future. But the rewards from mining are not permanent as most mines last only about 20 years.
Mining has also become a threat to Peru’s water sources and may threaten future agricultural development and permanently damage life in the Andes.
Increasingly, Peru’s social organizations are saying that water must take precedence over mining. In the last year, their protests have temporarily halted a number of mining projects because of the negative effects on water availability, including Southern Copper’s $1 billion Tia Maria copper mine project near Arequipa; Bear Creek Mining Corp. of Canada’s Santa Ana $51 million silver mine, Puno; and Southern Copper’s $800 million expansion of the Toquepala copper mine, Tacna.
The February 9 March of the Water protest—mostly peasant farmers from the Andes region—wrapped up a month-long march from the mining region of Cajamarca to Lima where they presented a legal project aimed at banning mining in water source areas. Peru’s pro-water movement is also demanding tougher government control over mining and the implementation of effective public consultation procedures. A new public consultation law, passed last year, has yet to be implemented and protesters want new mine activities to wait until the law is in force. They also want a review of current mining concessions.
more ...Mining has also become a threat to Peru’s water sources and may threaten future agricultural development and permanently damage life in the Andes.
Increasingly, Peru’s social organizations are saying that water must take precedence over mining. In the last year, their protests have temporarily halted a number of mining projects because of the negative effects on water availability, including Southern Copper’s $1 billion Tia Maria copper mine project near Arequipa; Bear Creek Mining Corp. of Canada’s Santa Ana $51 million silver mine, Puno; and Southern Copper’s $800 million expansion of the Toquepala copper mine, Tacna.
The February 9 March of the Water protest—mostly peasant farmers from the Andes region—wrapped up a month-long march from the mining region of Cajamarca to Lima where they presented a legal project aimed at banning mining in water source areas. Peru’s pro-water movement is also demanding tougher government control over mining and the implementation of effective public consultation procedures. A new public consultation law, passed last year, has yet to be implemented and protesters want new mine activities to wait until the law is in force. They also want a review of current mining concessions.
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