One person has reportedly died after a new attack on a mine owned by Poderosa, one of Peru’s largest gold miners, it said 25 September, while another was injured in the melee.
According to a Reuters report, Poderosa said the fresh attack by “criminals” linked to illegal mining in the region took the list of a security guard that was a contractor at the site. Another individual was injured by inhaling toxic fumes following the group’s use of explosives ro enter the miner’s facility at about 5 p.m. local time the day prior.
The attack went on after midnight, though no others were reported to be hurt.
Earlier this year, Poderosa said a power outage and attacks on electricity towers were caused by illegal miners. Last December, a group entered in a raid and killed nine, leaving another 15 injured.
In the last two years, the news service said, at least 30 people have been killed nationwide in armed attacks on gold mines.
“Despite the significant police presence in Pataz, these attacks against our operations have not ceased,” Poderosa said. “This spiral of violence is a response to the exponential growth of illegal mining in collusion with organized crime, an alliance that operates with absolute impunity.”
It urged Congress not to extend the mandate of a formalization program for small-scale miners known as REINFO that is set to expire at the end of the year, accusing it of enabling illegal mining. The miner also called on the state to strengthen its efforts against illegal mining and boost control of processing plants receiving the products of illegal mines.
Source: Reuters