Peru conflicts, protests remain high in June

Peru's ombudsman office, Defensoría del Pueblo, said the number of ongoing social conflicts in the country remained at a 15-month high in June.

Social conflicts totaled 198 in the month, matching the May figure, the highest since March 2017, the office said in its monthly report.

Two new conflicts were reported, including demands for great social spending by Fortuna Silver Mines (Arequipa). Two conflicts were solved this month, including protests against Buenaventura's operations (Apurímac), which were resolved through an accord for greater social spending and production royalties.

Active conflicts totaled 144 (72.7% of the total) compared with 146, the office said. Of the 126 socio-environmental conflicts recorded, 83 (65.9%) were related to the mining sector, and about 30% were focused in the highland regions of Ancash, Apurimac and Puno.

At least 82 conflicts were in a process of dialogue, 70 of them involving the ombudsman's office, it said.

Protest actions, meanwhile, also remained at a high level as the campaign heats up for regional elections this year. There were 198 protest actions in June compared with 202 the previous month, the office said in its monthly report.

Protests included demonstrations by residents of the Tambo Valley in Arequipa region who oppose Southern Copper's US$1.4bn Tía María copper project; villagers in Sibayo, Arequipa demanding greater social spending from Buenaventura, Hochschild Mining and Fortuna; protests against mining operations in Junín and against illegal mining in Puno region.

The government has pledged to focus on community relations in a bid to accelerate mining projects. Peru, which relies on the industry for 60% of its export revenue, is counting on US$14bn in mining investment projects to start up in 2018.

However, regional and municipal elections called for October 7 could slow investment projects as campaigns in Peru often attack the mining industry, according to state investment promotion agency Proinversión.