Nexa Resources has confirmed the resumption of operations at the Atacocha San Gerardo open-pit mine in Peru after community protests halted crews’ work for about a week.
Officials said operations began again on 23 March and will ramp up over the coming two days to full capacity.
On 17 March, the Machcan community illegally blocked the road access to the mine, it said, due to protest activities. While mine production was suspended at that time, it advanced limited activities for critical operations using a skeleton staff for proper mine maintenance.
The community’s activities have now ended and access to the road was released, it said. Yet 3,000 tonnes of estimated zinc production it lost over the period is expected to be recovered “in the coming months,” Nexa said.
Its 2022 production guidance will remain unchanged.
“Nexa remains committed to the social development of its host communities and will continue to pursue an active dialogue with the local community and its members,” it said.
The zinc producer, based in Luxembourg, currently owns and operates five long-life underground mines, three located in the central Andes of Peru and two located in the state of Minas Gerais in Brazil. It is also developing the Aripuanã project as its sixth underground mine in Mato Grosso, Brazil.
Source: Nexa Resources