Social organisations in the Peruvian region of Cajamarca will meet today to discuss their position on the government’s recent decision to continue with the Conga mining project.
The organisations believe that the venture, which involves drying up four lagoons in order to extract copper and gold in the highlands of Cajamarca, would affect the water system in the region.
The meeting comes following Peruvian president Ollanta Humala’s announcement last week confirming that the plans for Conga project will continue.
The government’s decision comes after the completion earlier this month. of a Study of Environmental Impact began in February, which assessed the mining project.
Leaders of the Front for Environmental Defence in Cajamarca and of the Land and Freedom organisation have rejected the president’s statement.
Humala announced that the project would create 10,000 new jobs, a fund for public works and added that it will not affect two of the four lagoons used for extracting gold, among other requirements.
The concession behind the mining project, the company Yanacocha, announced that it was only in favour of the extent of care for two of the lakes.
Upon completion of the survey, various social organizations in Cajamarca resumed protests against the implementation of the Conga project, and against the militarization of the region.
Story courtesy of Agencia Púlsar (link to http://www.agenciapulsar.org/), the AMARC-ALC news agency.
