Latest news with #JorgeMontero
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Peru ramps up fight against illegal mining, kicks most informal miners off permit scheme
By Marco Aquino LIMA (Reuters) -Peru's government has kicked 50,565 informal miners off a temporary program that allowed them to continue operations, the minister of energy and mines said on Friday. Only 31,560 miners will remain in the program that aims to formalize them and the government will reinforce its efforts against illegal mining, minister Jorge Montero told a local radio station. The announcement came as hundreds of small-scale miners push for continued operations with protests and a blockade of a key copper corridor used by major miners MMG, Glencore and Hudbay. Peru is the world's third-largest copper producer. The government said at least 45,000 of the excluded miners had not registered any activity in the last four years. "We will strengthen our efforts to crack down on illegal mining throughout the country," Montero said. The program, called REINFO, was started in 2012 and meant to be a temporary way to formalize miners operating outside the law. It has since been extended multiple times but also criticized for enabling illegal mining that degrades the environment. Government attempts to shutter the program have been met with fierce protests, and in late June, the government said it was extending the program until the end of 2025. Many workers have used the temporary permit to mine in prohibited areas or third-party property without having to comply with labor or environmental regulations, according to authorities and private mining companies. This has led to deadly clashes in mining regions, leaving dozens dead in the last few years, prompting President Dina Boluarte to temporarily suspend mining in May in the country's north after 13 gold mine workers were kidnapped and killed. Maximo Becquer, who heads Peru's National Confederation of Small and Artisanal Mining (Confemin), blasted the government's move, saying it would impact half a million people who depend on the sector, and vowed to ramp up the protests. "We ratify the strike until the government reverses these actions and violations against the right to work," Becquer said in a post on social media.
Straits Times
04-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Peru ramps up fight against illegal mining, kicks most informal miners off permit scheme
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox LIMA - Peru's government has kicked 50,565 informal miners off of a temporary program that allowed them to continue operations, the minister of energy and mines said on Friday. Only 31,560 miners will remain in the program that aims to formalize them and the government will reinforce its efforts against illegal mining, minister Jorge Montero told a local radio station. The government said at least 45,000 of the excluded miners had not registered any activity in the last four years. The program, called REINFO, was started in 2012 and meant to be temporary and formalize miners operating outside the law. It has since been extended multiple times and been criticized for enabling illegal mining. Government attempts to shutter the program have been met with protests and in late June the government said it was extending the program until the end of 2025. Protests have continue though, including a blockade in parts of Peru's key copper corridor earlier this week, with miners saying they want "unconditional formalization." Many workers have used the temporary permit to mine in prohibited areas or third-party property without having to comply with labor or environmental regulations, according to authorities and private mining companies. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore PAP has begun search for new candidates; PM Wong hopes to deploy them earlier ahead of next GE Singapore 20 retired MPs spoke up on many issues in Parliament, helped successors prepare for new role: PM Wong Singapore $3b money laundering case: 9 financial institutions handed $27.45m in MAS penalties over breaches Singapore Banks tighten vigilance and processes following $3b money laundering case Singapore Seller's stamp duty hike surprises some amid moderating property market, but is ultimately prudent Singapore Trilateral work group formed to address allegations of foreigners illegally taking on platform work Singapore Power distribution system in renewal project may be linked to Bukit Panjang LRT disruption: SMRT Singapore Rise in number of scam e-mails claiming to be from Cardinal William Goh: Catholic Church This has led to deadly clashes in mining regions, leaving dozens dead in the last few years, even leading President Dina Boluarte to temporarily suspend mining in the country's north after 13 gold mine workers were kidnapped and killed. REUTERS
The Star
04-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Peru ramps up fight against illegal mining, kicks most informal miners off permit scheme
LIMA (Reuters) -Peru's government has excluded 50,500 informal miners from a temporary program that would allow them to continue operations, the minister of energy and mines said on Friday. Only 30,500 small-scale miners will remain in the program, called REINFO, to seek formalization and the government will reinforce its efforts against illegal miners, minister Jorge Montero told a local radio station. (Reporting by Marco Aquino; Editing by ALexander Villegas)
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Peru's Nazca Lines face mining threat after protected area slashed
LIMA (Reuters) -Peru's government has significantly reduced the protected area around its famed Nazca Lines, a move critics and archaeologists fear could leave the ancient geoglyphs vulnerable to hundreds of nearby informal mining operations. Peru's Culture Ministry last week slashed the protected zone from 5,600 to 3,200 square kilometers, attributing the move to topographical and archaeological studies that more precisely demarcated areas with "real patrimonial value." The Nazca Lines, located about 400 km (250 miles) south of Lima, are over 800 giant desert etchings of animals, plants and geometric figures created more than 1,500 years ago. UNESCO declared them a World Heritage site in According to data from the Energy and Mines ministry, 362 small-scale gold miners operate in the Nazca district as part of a program to regularize their status. Authorities have previously conducted operations against illegal mining in the area. "The main threats to the Nazca Lines are informal mining operations in the surroundings and even within the protected area," Pieter Van Dalen, head of Peru's archaeologists' association, told Reuters. He called the reduction "very regrettable," challenging the justification that the original area was too large to control. With gold prices near record highs, police and industry sources allege that the government program to regularize small-scale mining, known as REINFO, is rife with irregularities and is often exploited by illegal miners, sometimes in collusion with criminal gangs. The REINFO program is set to expire at the end of this year, with Congress and the administration scrambling to work on a replacement scheme which closes operating loopholes. Small-scale miners had previously protested ahead of an earlier deadline, arguing they would have little time to regularize their activities. The government estimates illegal mining in Peru generates more than $3 billion annually, surpassing drug trafficking revenue. Energy and Mines Minister Jorge Montero acknowledged on Tuesday that small-scale miners operate in Nazca. He said the government is "evaluating how this (reduction) impacts the status of small-scale and artisanal mining working in the zone that was formerly part of Nazca's (protected area) and now is not." Peru's gold exports amounted to $15.5 billion in 2024, up from $11 billion the prior year. Around 40% of Peru's gold exports are estimated to come from illegal sources, according to industry data and Peru's financial regulator.
The Star
04-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Peru's Nazca Lines face mining threat after protected area slashed
LIMA (Reuters) -Peru's government has significantly reduced the protected area around its famed Nazca Lines, a move critics and archaeologists fear could leave the ancient geoglyphs vulnerable to hundreds of nearby informal mining operations. Peru's Culture Ministry last week slashed the protected zone from 5,600 to 3,200 square kilometers, attributing the move to topographical and archaeological studies that more precisely demarcated areas with "real patrimonial value." The Nazca Lines, located about 400 km (250 miles) south of Lima, are over 800 giant desert etchings of animals, plants and geometric figures created more than 1,500 years ago. UNESCO declared them a World Heritage site in According to data from the Energy and Mines ministry, 362 small-scale gold miners operate in the Nazca district as part of a program to regularize their status. Authorities have previously conducted operations against illegal mining in the area. "The main threats to the Nazca Lines are informal mining operations in the surroundings and even within the protected area," Pieter Van Dalen, head of Peru's archaeologists' association, told Reuters. He called the reduction "very regrettable," challenging the justification that the original area was too large to control. With gold prices near record highs, police and industry sources allege that the government program to regularize small-scale mining, known as REINFO, is rife with irregularities and is often exploited by illegal miners, sometimes in collusion with criminal gangs. The REINFO program is set to expire at the end of this year, with Congress and the administration scrambling to work on a replacement scheme which closes operating loopholes. Small-scale miners had previously protested ahead of an earlier deadline, arguing they would have little time to regularize their activities. The government estimates illegal mining in Peru generates more than $3 billion annually, surpassing drug trafficking revenue. Energy and Mines Minister Jorge Montero acknowledged on Tuesday that small-scale miners operate in Nazca. He said the government is "evaluating how this (reduction) impacts the status of small-scale and artisanal mining working in the zone that was formerly part of Nazca's (protected area) and now is not." Peru's gold exports amounted to $15.5 billion in 2024, up from $11 billion the prior year. Around 40% of Peru's gold exports are estimated to come from illegal sources, according to industry data and Peru's financial regulator. (Reporting by Marco Aquino; Editing by Aurora Ellis)
