Andina

Environment Minister: Public debates to clear up doubts on Tia Maria project

Manuel Pulgar Vidal, Ministro del Ambiente. Foto: ANDINA/Melina Mejia

Manuel Pulgar Vidal, Ministro del Ambiente. Foto: ANDINA/Melina Mejia

16:21 | Lima, May. 21.

Public debates on Tia Maria mining project are aimed at clearing up doubts and wrong information spread regarding it, which generated a tension climate in the area, Peru’s Environment Minister Manuel Pulgar-Vidal affirmed.

The public hearings, agreed in recent Cabinet's sessions, intend to provide true information about Tia Maria mining project, Pulgar-Vidal indicated.

"The wrong information has been continuously present in this conflict. Clearing up these facts, which due to inaccurate information generates tension, is one of the perspectives proposed by Prime Minister Cateriano. I'm sure these [hearings] will move forward," stated the Head of the Environment Ministry.

It should be noted the Prime Minister, Pedro Cateriano, announced the government will organize public debates on the project in Arequipa, Lima and other cities of the country, in order to promote an ideas exchange regarding the problem, surrounded by a peaceful atmosphere.

Pulgar-Vidal indicated the government is concerned about this project, not only because of the environmental matters involved, but also because the "good dialogue climate" is important and constitutes the only way to achieve understanding.

He also ruled out the mining formalization process may have stopped. In this sense, high-level authorities on mining formalization, illegal mining interdiction and environmental remediation are still working in many areas of the country, the Minister affirmed.

"We have not given in on the formalization or interdiction processes. The efforts, conducted for mining formalization go on [...]. We're still working hard," the Environment Minister stated.

Minister Pulgar-Vidal attends the Climate Week 2015, in Paris. Dialogues and conferences about climate change and the actions undertaken by the private business sector are held.

The event is promoted and organized by the 120 biggest companies of the world.

(END) MVF/FHG/RGR

Published: 5/21/2015