The Minister of Energy and Mines, Jorge Luis Montero Cornejo, clarified today that the decision to suspend mining activities for 30 days in the province of Pataz, La Libertad, does not involve formal companies.
“The decision to suspend activities does not involve formal companies. In the Pataz area there are 200 formal small-scale and artisanal mining companies that have already completed their formalization process. The suspension of mining activities is not sufficient for these companies,” he explained on TV Perú.
Yesterday, the Government ordered a 30-day, renewable suspension of mining activity in the province of Pataz to facilitate the deployment of the Armed Forces and the National Police to restore order.
- Government imposes curfew and territorial control of the Armed Forces in Pataz.
Identified companies
Minister Montero specified that formal companies are fully recognized and identified.
“Their activities will not be suspended, precisely because they enjoy the benefit of formality,” he stated.
He also emphasized that the suspension of mining activities applies to non-formalized companies.
“Their activities and traffic will be suspended for the next 30 days while the Armed Forces and Police Forces take control of the territory and begin their search for and capture of criminals and criminal organizations,” he explained.
“We are determined to regain control of the territory, because here one law applies to all Peruvians and this is a solid and strong unitary state, more united than ever. That is the message we are sending,” he added.
Reinfo
On the other hand, Minister Montero stated that the Comprehensive Registry of Mining Formalization (Reinfo) has become, in some cases, a vehicle for criminal activity.
Also, he clarified that this is not the only factor that could explain the criminal attack in Pataz.
"It is not the only factor contributing to the disorder, the situation of violence, and the insecurity in Pataz," he stated.
He stated that there is a lack of coordination, a lack of organization, and a lack of state presence.
"There is a lack of organization in civil society, a series of chronic and historical situations of territorial abandonment, which must be reversed," he indicated.
In December 2024, the Congress approved a law to extend the Reinfo program till June 30, 2025.
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Published: 5/6/2025