- The report finds that Anglo American’s diversion of the Asana River has impacted the quality and quantity of scarce water sources relied upon by the local community for household and agricultural use
- Pollution from the Quellaveco copper mine has also been found to have resulted in air contamination and affected oregano crops
- As Anglo American shareholders meet on 29 April, communities demand the company comply with Agreement 11 and fulfil its commitment to construct a water dam upstream from the diversion of the Asana River, of 2.5 million cubic metres (90 litres/second).
A copper mining project, promoted by the British Embassy in Lima as the UK’s largest investment in Peru, has come under fire over its impact on water reserves in the southern region of Moquegua, an area facing acute water stress.
A new report from Red Muqui, a Peruvian NGO, in collaboration with London Mining Network, Terrajusta and DHUMA, compiles detailed findings by Peruvian organisations that monitor water, health and environmental compliance in mining.
The Quellaveco mine’s owners, British mining giant Anglo American (60%) in partnership with Mitsubishi Corporation (40%), describe the project as “100% digital” and an exemplary modern mine. But the report reveals that “technology has not been enough to prevent impacts or ensure environmental compliance”, finding that the extractive project is putting “severe pressure on ecosystems”.
The report includes key findings on:
Water
Anglo American’s diversion of the Asana River has resulted in the loss of around 7km of aquatic habitat, irreversibly impacting the local ecosystem. Water monitoring shows significant metal contamination in the Tumilaca river sub-basin.
Particulate matter
PM10 (Particulate Matter 10 micrometers or less) and TSP (Total Suspended Particulates) generated by mining activities in Quellaveco caused an increase in copper and molybdenum concentrations in soils, oregano crops, and shrublands. Levels of copper found exceeded values potentially harmful to oregano growth.
Compliance
The report identifies a persistent pattern of environmental and social impact, with several of the agreements reached between Anglo American and Moquegua communities in 2012 remaining unfulfilled. An emblematic case is Agreement 11, which concerns the construction of the Asana River dam, which has not been implemented.
This report will be launched at an event in London on 29 April, following Anglo American’s AGM. The event will amplify demands from Moquegua communities for Anglo American to uphold its commitments and construct a water dam upstream from the diversion of the Asana River, of 2.5 million cubic metres (90 litres/second). The report is an abridged English version of Red Muqui’s full findings, which will be published in Spanish in May.
Diana Salazar, Latin America Coordinator at London Mining Network, said: “The UK’s Critical Minerals Strategy anticipates that demand for copper will double in the next ten years. This report exposes the burden that expanding mining is already having on areas suffering from water scarcity. Anglo American must listen to Moquegua communities and fulfil its commitment on water access.”
Lucio Flores, a member of the Aymara farming community of Muilaque in Moquegua, said: “Anglo American took away the last source of water we had left. The 8km of the Asana microbasin no longer exist. It has been destroyed. If we are this affected now, we are sincerely worried for what the future holds, with plans to construct 18 more mining projects in our region of Moquegua”.
Bladimir Martinez, Environmental Technician in the Socio-environmental Area at Red Muqui, said: “This research brought me closer to Moquegua and to its deepest concerns: how is it possible that a single mining project could put the water supply for human consumption of more than 100,000 people at risk?”