Southern Copper eyes start of stalled Peru mine project as soon as this year

Southern Copper hopes to begin construction as soon as this year at a once fiercely contested copper mine in Peru’s coastal mountains as socio-political tensions ease and authorities get behind the project.

The company has had permits to build its Tia Maria project for years yet held back because of environmental opposition. A 2019 decision to approve its license unleashed weeks of protests and then-President Pedro Castillo called the mine a non-starter. The current government says it’s supportive.