Protesters block the copper route in Peru used by large mines

Leaders of the protest and a source in the industry said that a protest by informal miner's in Peru has blocked parts of an important copper corridor used by MMG, Glencore, and Hudbay.

Luis Huaman said that the demonstrators who blocked the road in the Chumbivilcas Province of Cusco are pressing the Peruvian government to extend the deadline for regularizing informal mining operations.

Companies operating copper mines around the area, including MMG's Las Bambas and Hudbay's Constancia as well as Glencore's Antapaccay, did not respond to comments immediately.

Las Bambas, the fourth-ranked producer in the country, was not able to determine the extent of any potential impact on the operations.

This is just one of many areas in Peru where the artisanal and unorganized miners' organization CONFEMIN began protesting on Friday.

Huaman stated in an interview that "this blockade was in support of the protest for national formalization, unconditional," Huaman. "We will not allow (trucks) from large-scale mining pass."

Sources familiar with the mining industry who are familiar with Las Bambas have told us that Las Bambas is affected by protests after a few days, but they did not give any further details.

Las Bambas, which has been the subject of numerous protests over the years, has taken longer routes to avoid roadblocks. (Reporting and writing by Marco Aquino, Daina Beth Solon; editing by Paul Simao).

(source: Reuters)