Canadian miner halts operations in Peru due to community protests

Reference image. Lineated tourmalinite with argentiferous galena (silver ore). Photo James St. John, Wikimedia Commons.

Pan American Silver (TSX: PAA; NASDAQ: PAAS) acknowledged today that it had to suspend operations at its Huarón mine, located in the Peruvian central region of Pasco.

In a press release, Pan American said that activities at the site were halted on April 24, 2018, as a result of road blockades carried out by members of the nearby Huayllay community.

“The community members have demanded compensation from the Company for alleged impacts to community land, as well as additional service contracts for construction work, haulage and material supply to the mine,” the media brief reads.

The Vancouver-based miner said that, in order to resolve the issue, management has engaged with the protesters in a mediation process, which is being led by the Social Affairs General Office of the Peruvian Ministry of Energy and Mines.

Huarón is an underground, 2,300 tpd operation that produces silver rich zinc, lead, and copper concentrates.