A blockade by informal miners in Peru’s Chumbivilcas province is disrupting a vital copper corridor, impacting the operations of leading mining companies, as reported by Reuters.
Supporting a national protest that began on Friday, 4 July 2025, the blockade involves members of Peru’s artisanal and informal miners’ organisation, CONFEMIN.
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The protest is part of a broader action demanding that the Peruvian government extend a deadline for regularising informal mining activities, according to protest leader Luis Huaman, who stated that “this blockade is in support of the national protest, for unconditional formalisation” and confirmed that transportation for large-scale mining companies is being halted.
The protest has affected the operations of MMG’s Las Bambas, Glencore’s Antapaccay and Hudbay’s Constancia, which are among the top ten copper producers in the country.
The mining companies have yet to comment on the situation.
Las Bambas is experiencing disruptions due to the ongoing protests, although specific details have not been disclosed.
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By GlobalDataThe company, which has encountered numerous protests in recent years, has previously resorted to using alternative routes to circumvent such blockades.
Peru, the world’s third-largest copper producer, is projected to see a modest rise in production to 2.8 million tonnes (mt) during 2025.
The country’s mining investments are also expected to reach at least $4.8bn, as stated by Mines and Energy Minister Jorge Montero.
In 2024, the mining sector in Peru attracted investments totalling $4.96bn, underscoring its critical role in the national economy.
In a related development, Lupaka Gold has been granted a positive final ruling by the Arbitral Tribunal in its arbitration case against Peru regarding the Invicta gold project.
The ruling grants Lupaka Gold $40.4m in compensation with interest, plus $4.2m for arbitration-related costs and expenses.
