Environment Minister, Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, assured today the State will “clear up” the doubts coming from people living in Islay province (Arequipa region) in regard to Tia Maria mining project.
The information, to be spread, will be based on reliable facts and scientific principles, he assured.
Pulgar-Vidal indicated the Energy and Mines Ministry will make a presentation addressing the concern, in order to clarify the project details to the population on Friday.
Officials will explain residents the observations made on the first Environmental Impact Assessment, which had been corrected on the second one, it was informed.
"The State's task is to provide reliable information based on scientific principles," declared Pulgar-Vidal to the media.
In this framework, the Minister indicated people should not allow themselves to be driven into confusion by the sectors, which are radically opposed to mining.
According to Pulgar-Vidal, the State has been working for many years in this region "having in mind" the claims made by the population.
As an example, he mentioned the recent creation of development roundtables aimed at analyzing the measures created to propel progress in the area.
Pulgar-Vidal arrived in Arequipa accompanied by the Agriculture Minister, Juan Manuel Benites; Interior Minister, Jose Perez Guadalupe; and the Energy and Mines Minister, Rosa Maria Ortiz, in order to engage in dialogue with district residents and representatives.
Tia Maria project, in charge of Southern Peru Copper Corporation, estimates an investment worth around US$1.4 billion for copper exploitation.
(END) CCR/RGR/MVB
Published: 4/8/2015