President Ollanta Humala said the Newmont "finally" was identified with the new environmental conditions to develop its Minas Conga megaproject, currently detained by protests from residents who fear that can contaminate water sources in Cajamarca.
Humala, however, did not say whether Newmont Mining has informed the Government to restart operations in Minas Conga project of 4.800 million, which could become the largest investment in a single mine in the history of Peru.
"We had already made an approach to this project and we welcome that they have finally identified with our proposal," Humala told reporters.
The copper-gold project Minas Conga was arrested in November after a wave of protests in the northern region of Cajamarca, which generated the first crisis of the Government of Humala. The protest in Cajamarca was resumed for 22 days.
In an attempt to quell the movement, the government hired experts in the study that evaluated the environmental impact of the project, after which recommended keeping two of four lakes that would be affected by its operation and increase the capacity of water tanks provided.
President Humala asked Newmont and Buenaventura local partner to comply with the proposals of the experts to advance the project, which would produce between 580.000 and 680.000 ounces of gold annually.
Newmont said last month that he would report at the end of June its decision on the future of its Minas Conga project.
Residents of Cajamarca reject the Minas Conga operation for fear that its development affects natural water sources in the area, living mainly from agriculture and livestock. Other local groups support the development of the gigantic plan, which has polarized the population.
Peru, the second largest producer of copper and the sixth in gold, has vast mineral resources, but extraction often face rejection from people who fear environmental damage or demand a greater share of industry revenue.
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