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LIMA — Days of increasingly violent environmental protests forced the suspension of a $4.8-billion gold mining project in northern Peru operated by US mining giant Newmont, the mine said.
The conflict goes to the heart of problem President Ollanta Humala faces in trying to balance the needs of the mainly poor people who elected him with the demands of the mining industry, Peru's main engine of economic growth.
Protests throughout the Cajamarca department have been boiling over for almost a week, with a mob of some 1,500 demonstrators setting fire to a local warehouse and the main airport being forced to close.
At least 10 people were injured on Tuesday's sixth day of protests against the so-called Conga Project, which Humala has so far backed. The protests brought the department to a near standstill.
"For the sake of reestablishing tranquility and social peace in Cajamarca, it has been decided to suspend the project's activities," said a statement from the Yanacocha mine, operated by Newmont and local partner Buenaventura.
The open-pit Conga Project, located some 3,700 meters (12,140 feet) above sea level, involves moving the water from four lakes high in the mountains into reservoirs the company would build.
Protesters say the reservoirs do not adequately replace the lakes, which also provide groundwater for agriculture and to irrigate pasture fields for livestock.
The conflict goes to the heart of problem President Ollanta Humala faces in trying to balance the needs of the mainly poor people who elected him with the demands of the mining industry, Peru's main engine of economic growth.
Protests throughout the Cajamarca department have been boiling over for almost a week, with a mob of some 1,500 demonstrators setting fire to a local warehouse and the main airport being forced to close.
At least 10 people were injured on Tuesday's sixth day of protests against the so-called Conga Project, which Humala has so far backed. The protests brought the department to a near standstill.
"For the sake of reestablishing tranquility and social peace in Cajamarca, it has been decided to suspend the project's activities," said a statement from the Yanacocha mine, operated by Newmont and local partner Buenaventura.
The open-pit Conga Project, located some 3,700 meters (12,140 feet) above sea level, involves moving the water from four lakes high in the mountains into reservoirs the company would build.
Protesters say the reservoirs do not adequately replace the lakes, which also provide groundwater for agriculture and to irrigate pasture fields for livestock.