Ancash Authorities Reject Condorhuain Project

PERU

Ancash Authorities Reject Condorhuain Project

by Walter Salazar

Huaraz - Ancash, 30 January 2007 (CNR) -- The regional president of Ancash, Cesar Alvarez Aguilar, pledged to prevent the advance of mining exploration operations in Barrick Gold's Misquichilca on Condorhuain mountain. Alvarez made this promise after meeting with representatives of the Regional Coordination of Communities Affected by Mining (CORECAMI), who have asked for an official declaration of the Condorhuain mountain as a protected area.

Luis Riofrío Crisanto, president of CONACAMI-PERU, said that the regional government will issue an ordinance to halt the advance of studies which the Canadian company is carrying out, operations which could put the ecological equilibrium of the Ancash mountain range into danger. The leader made this announcement during a meeting carried out in the auditorium of the Regional Government in which over 400 campesinos of the Negra Range were present. It should be noted that Barrick Misquichilca carried out a study of mining exploration a few months ago; however residents and community leaders of Condorhuain have reported that the company never has requested social authorization from them and the mining firm is operating under the shield of a permit awarded to them from the Regional Board of Mining and Energy in Ancash.