The Federation of Copper Workers started the strike early Wednesday morning.

The problem is how long will it take for that future to become reality, writes Clyde Russell.

The company has not been directly targeted by Western sanctions imposed on Moscow after it sent thousands of troops into Ukraine on February 24.

The blockade signaled a new conflict just two weeks after the mining firm resumed operations.

TAILLIQ project is funded by the Australian Research Council, Anglo American, BHP, Freeport-McMoran, Newmont, Rio Tinto and Teck Resources.  

The new conflict comes just two weeks after the mining firm resumed operations following another protest that forced Las Bambas to shut down for more than 50 days.

The S&P/TSX Composite Materials Index is now negative for the year after peaking in mid-April.

Nordgold produces about one million troy ounces of gold a year from eight mines in Russia, Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Kazakhstan.