Peru’s Informal Miners Threaten Protests Over Explosives Deadline Dispute

Informal miners in Peru are threatening to resume protests after suspending negotiations with the government due to unresolved disputes over new mining regulations. Maximo Franco Bequer, leader of the CONFEMIN union, said on Friday that talks collapsed after officials refused to extend an August 17 deadline requiring miners to relocate explosives into formal “powder magazines.”

Bequer warned that around 20,000 miners in the Cusco region face exclusion from the government’s formalization program if they fail to comply. The program, launched over a decade ago, aims to regulate artisanal mining operations that currently operate under temporary permits. Miners argue the stricter requirements are costly and risk leaving thousands unemployed.

Earlier in July, the miners ended a two-week protest that blocked a key copper transport route used by major mining companies, including MMG, Glencore (OTC: GLNCY), and Hudbay. The blockade disrupted shipments in one of the world’s top copper-producing nations, highlighting tensions between Peru’s informal miners and authorities seeking to tighten oversight of the sector.

The government maintains that formalizing the use of explosives is essential for safety and environmental compliance, while miners insist they need more time to meet the new standards. Union representatives plan to hold internal meetings in the coming hours to determine whether to restart demonstrations, potentially reigniting disruptions in the copper supply chain.

Peru is the world’s second-largest copper producer, and ongoing disputes between informal miners and the government pose risks to global supply chains and local economic stability. The outcome of these negotiations could have significant implications for both the artisanal mining sector and international commodity markets.