Peruvian President Martín Vizcarra said that “it will take time” to clarify the doubts that the communities near the billionaire copper project Tía María, of the mining company Southern Copper, have about the care of the environment and its social benefits, explained yesterday El Economista.
Tía María is $1.4 billion US dollar project located in the southern region of Arequipa. It’s currently awaiting a government construction permit after it was paralyzed in 2015 due to protests from the surrounding towns.
“The communities fear that the mining company will generate pollution and use in its operations the waters that residents use in agricultural activities, even though the company said it will desalinate seawater”, El Economista wrote on Sunday.
President Vizcarra told RPP radio that there are still many doubts to be clarified regarding Tía María. “As a State, we must go to clarify the doubts. And that will take a while and then we will work on this and any other project”, he said.
The President also said that his government will support mining investments, although he pointed out that the sector must operate with respect for the environment and generate welfare mainly in areas of direct influence.
On his part, the Peruvian Prime Minister César Villanueva said last week that he would not “impose” mining projects without the social license of the communities, when asked about the Southern Copper venture.
(Source)
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