Cuajone mine
| Location | |
|---|---|
| Moquegua Region | |
| Country | Peru |
| Production | |
| Products | Copper |
Background
The Cuajone mine is a large copper mine located in the south of Peru in Moquegua Region. Cuajone represents one of the largest copper reserve in Peru and in the world having estimated reserves of 1.6 billion tonnes of ore grading 0.57% copper.[1]
The Cuajone Mine was officially opened in November 1976. It was owned by Southern Peru Copper Corporation, which was a 51% subsidiary of Asarco.
Geology
The porphyry copper deposit and hypogene mineralization occurred in the Early Eocene. Supergene sulfide enrichment began in the Late Oligocene and continued until the Early Miocene. Chalcocite is the more common copper ore mineral as massive assemblages.[2]
Environmental Conflict
The Cuajone mine has faced significant environmental conflict, primarily due to claims by local communities that the mine pollutes the environment while not providing sufficient economic benefits.[3][4] These long-standing grievances have led to direct action, including blockades of rail lines used to transport the mine's products and the disruption of the mine's water supply.[5]
Specifically, in February 2022, community members blockaded the railway and cut off the water supply, demanding $5 billion in compensation and 5% of the mine's profits.[6] The disruption of the water supply was described by Southern Copper as "an attack on the life and health" of approximately 5,000 people in the Cuajone area. The mine's complex begins with a water supply at Lake Suche and ends with a smelter on the South Pacific coast.[5]
Consequences and Resulting Actions
The protests have resulted in significant disruptions to the mine's operations. Production at the Cuajone mine was suspended for over 50 days. In March 2022, it was reported that production had been halted for two weeks due to the railway blockage and water supply cut-off. This suspension had significant economic consequences as the mine contributes 7% of Peru's national copper production.[5] The Peruvian government sent the army to restore operations, dismissing the financial demands of the local communities as "irrational". Southern Copper also stated that if the mine were to close for a year, the government would lose more than 3.1 billion sales in taxes and royalties, and 8,000 jobs would be lost.[7] Despite a deal aimed at ending the protests, the mine remained halted, as the company accused the government of failing to guarantee the safety of its workers.[7] Other mines in Peru have faced similar protests, indicating wider social and environmental concerns.[8]
See also
References
- ^ "Copper mines" (PDF). southernperu.com. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-12-24. Retrieved 2013-07-06.
- ^ Clark, Alan; Tosdal, Richard; Farrar, Edward; Plazolles V., Armando (1990). "Geomorphologic Environment and Age of Supergene Enrichment of the Cuajone, Quellaveco, and Toquepala Porphyry Copper Deposits, Southeastern Peru". Economic Geology. 85 (7): 1604–1628. doi:10.2113/gsecongeo.85.7.1604.
- ^ Aquino, Marco; Rochabrun, Marcelo (2022-03-14). "Southern Copper's Cuajone mine in Peru suspended production due to protest -SNMPE". Reuters. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
- ^ Writer, Staff (2022-05-01). "Southern Copper, Peruvian government to find solutions to conflict with communities around Cuajone mine". MINING.COM. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
- ^ a b c CE Noticias Financieras (14 March 2022). "Production at Southern Copper's Cuajone mine in Peru is paralyzed due to community protest". CE Noticias Financieras.
- ^ Aquino, Marco; Rochabrun, Marcelo (14 March 2022). "Southern Copper's Cuajone mine in Peru suspended production due to protest -SNMPE". Reuters. Archived from the original on 2023-11-08. Retrieved 2025-02-12.
- ^ a b Hilaire, Valentine (13 April 2022). "Southern Copper says Peru mine remains halted despite latest deal to end protests". Reuters.
- ^ Rochabrun, Marcelo (22 April 2022). "Peru says 50-day protest lifted at Cuajone mine". MINING.COM.