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Copper Mining & Environmental Justice in Peru

 

Copper Mining & Environmental Justice in Peru

by Valeria Yraita-Zevallos 


 What is the cost of being one of the biggest copper contributors to corporations from the large powers? For the mining cities throughout Peru, the cost is the health of children and families living in these cities. The cost is contaminated waterways that leave people without safe drinking water and deteriorating ecosystems. The cost harms people and the environment, while simultaneously fueling the profits of companies based in China and the United States. 

 The Ministry of Energy and Mines in Peru has claimed that Peru is the “second-largest producer of copper in the world”[1]. Yet, mining cities such as La Oroya, Cerro de Pasco, Morococha, and others throughout Peru have been feeling the negative outcomes of mining for decades. Big corporations from the U.S. and China operate these mines due to their strong demand for copper to build “electrical equipment and industrial machinery”[2]. One of China’s largest overseas copper projects is the Toromocho Mine in Morochoca. In their first year of production in 2013, they produced 182,288 tons of refined copper and in 2018 that number increased by 45% to 300,000 tons[3]. Its specific refinement process makes the need for a large space for the mine; degrading the surrounding environment and demolishing the homes of natives to make it bigger. Communal water is contaminated by heavy metals in this city, making it unsafe to consume. Moreover, the Ministry of Health diagnosed “27 children under 12 with lead poisoning in 2019” in Morochoca[4]. Additionally, despite the importance of mines for the economy of Peru, mines such as Toromocho have only provided short-term contracts to locals, leaving many jobless soon after. 


 Beyond Toromocho, other mines are experiencing the same outcomes. U.S. company, Southern Copper Corporation, has been dumping 785 million tons of mining waste into the coast for more than 35 years in the Bahia de Ite region[5]. This has damaged the fishing area and other marine life on the coast. The local food source, a fish called “choro”, was found in a study between 2014-2015 to have contained copper, arsenic, and cadmium levels beyond the safety limits of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization; leading locals to face serious health effects from their food[6]. Nonetheless, children are found to be the main victims of the toxins released from the mines as seen by their affected IQ levels, nerve, brain, and kidney damage, and others[7]. Workers and adults face similar effects of mines with added health problems of lung damage, infertility, and Parkinson's disease[8]. The violation of regulations by these mining companies is the main culprit hurting the lives of the innocent natives in these regions. Nonetheless, a fight to end the abuse of mines has risen within the last decade from Peruvians across the nation. Protests have erupted in mining cities that have led to delays in the opening of new mines by Chinese-owned companies. Moreover, Peruvian NGOs such as Cooperaccion[9] on Water Rights have brought forth legislation to increase regulations on mines to protect drinking water and the environment. Locals have banded together to start movements such as “Vida Si, Plomo No” [Yes to Life, No to Lead][10]. The work of Peruvian activists is making this ever-growing problem reach mainstream media and obtain international attention. Efforts to protect human rights and the environment are growing rapidly in Peru as the cost of mines is being exposed. 

[1] Morin, Carolin, Charles Pritz, Sophie Pittaluga, Zak Zeledon, and National Geospatial Intelligence Agency. 2022. “Exploring China's Footprint in the Andes Mountains: Copper Mining in Peru.” Tearline.mil. https://www.tearline.mil/public_page/copper-peru.

[2] Morin, Carolin, Charles Pritz, Sophie Pittaluga, Zak Zeledon, and National Geospatial Intelligence Agency. 2022. “Exploring China's Footprint in the Andes Mountains: Copper Mining in Peru.”

[3] Ibid.

[4] Ibid.

[5] Orihuela, Roberth. 2024. “U.S. mining companies leave lasting trail of contamination across Peru.” Mongabay. https://news.mongabay.com/2024/01/u-s-mining-companies-leave-lasting-trail-of-contamination-across-peru/.

[6] Orihuela, Roberth. 2024. “U.S. mining companies leave lasting trail of contamination across Peru.” Mongabay.

[7] Orihuela, Roberth. 2024. “U.S. mining companies leave lasting trail of contamination across Peru.” Mongabay.

[8] Ibid.

[9] Monge, Carlos. 2016. “Water Management, Environmental Impacts and Peru’s Mining Conflicts.” Natural Resource Governance Institute. https://resourcegovernance.org/articles/water-management-environmental-impacts-and-perus-mining-conflicts.

[10] Orihuela, Roberth. 2024. “U.S. mining companies leave lasting trail of contamination across Peru.” Mongabay.



  
Bibliography 

Collyns, Dan. 2023. “Poisoned for decades by a Peruvian mine, communities say they feel forgotten.” Mongabay. https://news.mongabay.com/2023/11/poisoned-for-decades-by-a-peruvian-mine-communities-say-they-feel-forgotten/. 

Gladius Labs. 2015. “Peruvian Flag Waving - Bandera del Peru - Flag of Peru.” YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeEA1tqDclk. 

Haze Relaxation. 2021. “(No Copyright music) Peruvian Andean music folklore [FREE].” YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHF1KVqT5UY. 

Mongabay. 2023. “The massive mine poisoning an entire city in Peru.” YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oJuqQFqAAA. 

Monge, Carlos. 2016. “Water Management, Environmental Impacts and Peru’s Mining Conflicts.” Natural Resource Governance Institute. https://resourcegovernance.org/articles/water-management-environmental-impacts-and-perus-mining-conflicts. 

Monge, Carlos. 2016. “Water Management, Environmental Impacts and Peru’s Mining Conflicts.” Natural Resource Governance Institute. https://resourcegovernance.org/articles/water-management-environmental-impacts-and-perus-mining-conflicts. 

Morin, Carolin, Charles Pritz, Sophie Pittaluga, Zak Zeledon, and National Geospatial Intelligence Agency. 2022. “Exploring China's Footprint in the Andes Mountains: Copper Mining in Peru.” Tearline.mil. https://www.tearline.mil/public_page/copper-peru. 

Orihuela, Roberth. 2024. “U.S. mining companies leave lasting trail of contamination across Peru.” Mongabay. https://news.mongabay.com/2024/01/u-s-mining-companies-leave-lasting-trail-of-contamination-across-peru/. 

Orihuela, Roberth. n.d. “El rastro de contaminación de las mineras estadounidenses en Perú.” Pancarta.pe. Accessed October 21, 2024. https://www.pancarta.pe/el-rastro-de-contaminacion-minas-usa-en-peru/. 

Wamani, Tania. 2024. “What Went Wrong in La Oroya, Peru?” The Nation. https://www.thenation.com/article/environment/toxic-mining-peru-la-oroya/.

transcripción en español

¿Cuál es el costo de ser uno de los mayores contribuyentes de cobre a las corporaciones de las grandes potencias? Para las ciudades mineras en el Perú, el costo es la salud de los niños y familias que viven en estas ciudades. El costo es las vías fluviales contaminadas que dejan a la gente sin agua potable y el deterioro de los ecosistemas. El costo perjudica a las personas y al medioambiente, mientras que los dueños de estas minas con sedes en China y Estados Unidos se quedan con grandes ganancias.

El Ministerio de Energía y Minas de Perú ha afirmado que Perú es el “segundo mayor productor de cobre del mundo”[1]. Sin embargo, ciudades mineras como La Oroya, Cerro de Pasco, Morococha y otras en el Perú han estado sintiendo los resultados negativos de la minería durante décadas. Grandes corporaciones de los EE. UU. y China operan estas minas debido a su fuerte demanda de cobre para construir “equipos eléctricos y maquinaria industrial”[2]. Uno de los proyectos de cobre más grandes de China en el extranjero es la mina Toromocho en Morochoca. En su primer año de producción en 2013, produjeron 182,288 toneladas de cobre refinado y en 2018 esa cifra aumentó en un 45% a 300,000 toneladas[3]. Su particular proceso de refinación hace que sea necesario un gran espacio para la mina, degradando el entorno circundante y demoliendo las casas de los nativos para agrandarla. El agua comunal está contaminada por metales pesados ​​en esta ciudad, lo que la hace insegura para su consumo. Además, el Ministerio de Salud diagnosticó “27 niños menores de 12 años con intoxicación por plomo en 2019” en Morochoca[4]. Además, a pesar de la importancia de las minas para la economía del Perú, minas como Toromocho solo han brindado contratos a corto plazo a los ciudadanos locales, dejando a muchos sin trabajo poco después.

Más allá de Toromocho, otras minas están causando los mismos resultados. La empresa estadounidense Southern Copper Corporation ha estado vertiendo 785 millones de toneladas de desechos mineros en la costa durante más de 35 años en la región de Bahía de Ite[5]. Esto ha dañado la zona de pesca y otras formas de vida marina en la costa. En un estudio realizado entre 2014 y 2015 se descubrió que la fuente de alimento local, un pez llamado "choro", contenía niveles de cobre, arsénico y cadmio que sobre pasaban los límites de seguridad de la Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Agricultura y la Alimentación, lo que llevó a los ciudadanos locales a enfrentar graves efectos sobre la salud a causa de su alimentación[6]. Sin embargo, se ha descubierto que los niños son las principales víctimas de las toxinas liberadas por las minas, como se ve en sus niveles de coeficiente intelectual afectados, daños en los nervios, el cerebro y los riñones, entre otros. Los trabajadores y los adultos enfrentan efectos similares de las minas con problemas de salud adicionales de daño pulmonar, infertilidad y enfermedad de Parkinson[7]. La violación de las regulaciones por parte de estas empresas mineras es el principal culpable de dañar las vidas de los nativos inocentes de estas regiones.

Sin embargo, en la última década ha surgido una lucha por poner fin al abuso de las minas por parte de los peruanos en diferentes partes del país. Han surgido protestas en ciudades mineras que han provocado retrasos en la apertura de nuevas minas por parte de empresas de propiedad china. Además, ONG peruanas como Cooperaccion on Water Rights han presentado leyes para aumentar las regulaciones sobre las minas con el fin de proteger el agua potable y el medio ambiente. Peruanos se han unido para iniciar movimientos como “Vida Sí, Plomo No”[8]. El trabajo de los activistas peruanos está haciendo que estas injusticias llegue a los principales medios de comunicación y obtenga atención internacional. Los esfuerzos para proteger los derechos humanos y el medio ambiente están aumentando rápidamente en Perú a medida que se expone los efectos negativos de las minas.

 

 

 

 

Bibliography

Collyns, Dan. 2023. “Poisoned for decades by a Peruvian mine, communities say they feel forgotten.” Mongabay. https://news.mongabay.com/2023/11/poisoned-for-decades-by-a-peruvian-mine-communities-say-they-feel-forgotten/.

Gladius Labs. 2015. “Peruvian Flag Waving - Bandera del Peru - Flag of Peru.” YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeEA1tqDclk.

Haze Relaxation. 2021. “(No Copyright music) Peruvian Andean music folklore [FREE].” YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHF1KVqT5UY.

Mongabay. 2023. “The massive mine poisoning an entire city in Peru.” YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oJuqQFqAAA.

Monge, Carlos. 2016. “Water Management, Environmental Impacts and Peru’s Mining Conflicts.” Natural Resource Governance Institute. https://resourcegovernance.org/articles/water-management-environmental-impacts-and-perus-mining-conflicts.

Monge, Carlos. 2016. “Water Management, Environmental Impacts and Peru’s Mining Conflicts.” Natural Resource Governance Institute. https://resourcegovernance.org/articles/water-management-environmental-impacts-and-perus-mining-conflicts.

Morin, Carolin, Charles Pritz, Sophie Pittaluga, Zak Zeledon, and National Geospatial Intelligence Agency. 2022. “Exploring China's Footprint in the Andes Mountains: Copper Mining in Peru.” Tearline.mil. https://www.tearline.mil/public_page/copper-peru.

Orihuela, Roberth. 2024. “U.S. mining companies leave lasting trail of contamination across Peru.” Mongabay. https://news.mongabay.com/2024/01/u-s-mining-companies-leave-lasting-trail-of-contamination-across-peru/.

Orihuela, Roberth. n.d. “El rastro de contaminación de las mineras estadounidenses en Perú.” Pancarta.pe. Accessed October 21, 2024. https://www.pancarta.pe/el-rastro-de-contaminacion-minas-usa-en-peru/.

Wamani, Tania. 2024. “What Went Wrong in La Oroya, Peru?” The Nation. https://www.thenation.com/article/environment/toxic-mining-peru-la-oroya/.

 


[1] Morin, Carolin, Charles Pritz, Sophie Pittaluga, Zak Zeledon, and National Geospatial Intelligence Agency. 2022. “Exploring China's Footprint in the Andes Mountains: Copper Mining in Peru.” Tearline.mil. https://www.tearline.mil/public_page/copper-peru.

[2] Morin, Carolin, Charles Pritz, Sophie Pittaluga, Zak Zeledon, and National Geospatial Intelligence Agency. 2022. “Exploring China's Footprint in the Andes Mountains: Copper Mining in Peru.”

[3] Ibid.

[4] Ibid.

[5] Orihuela, Roberth. 2024. “U.S. mining companies leave lasting trail of contamination across Peru.” Mongabay. https://news.mongabay.com/2024/01/u-s-mining-companies-leave-lasting-trail-of-contamination-across-peru/.

[6] Orihuela, Roberth. 2024. “U.S. mining companies leave lasting trail of contamination across Peru.” Mongabay.

[7] Ibid.

[8] Orihuela, Roberth. 2024. “U.S. mining companies leave lasting trail of contamination across Peru.” Mongabay.

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