MMG and Hudbay Warn Peru of Potential Copper Output Disruptions Amid Ongoing Protests
MMG and Hudbay Urge Peru to Resolve Protests Threatening Mine Operations
Executives from MMG and Hudbay Minerals met with Peru’s cabinet chief, Eduardo Arana, on Thursday to express concerns that ongoing protests by informal miners could disrupt copper production at two of the country’s largest mines, according to sources familiar with the discussions.
The two-week-long demonstration, which has blocked a key transit route in the Cusco region, poses a growing threat to operations at MMG’s Las Bambas and Hudbay’s Constancia mines—both of which rank among Peru’s top ten copper producers.
While neither company responded to media inquiries, a person familiar with MMG’s Las Bambas operation confirmed that production remains unaffected for now.
However, both firms are closely monitoring the situation as logistics and supply chains may soon be impacted if the roadblocks persist.
In a statement released Thursday evening, Arana’s office confirmed the meeting with mining representatives, including those from MMG and Hudbay.
The cabinet chief reiterated the Peruvian government’s commitment to facilitating dialogue between the mining companies and local communities.
The statement did not provide additional details on the protests or their potential effects on copper output.
Peru is the world’s third-largest copper producer, and much of its output is exported to China, making any disruption to production or transportation a matter of global economic concern.
The current tensions underscore the fragile balance between mining interests and local community demands in one of the world’s most resource-rich countries.
