Intro The Alto Chicama Gold mining concession, covering an area of approximately 18,550 hectares within the provinces of Otuzco, Sánchez Carrión and Santiago de Chuco, La Libertad, Peru, is soon to be one of the largest gold mining operations in Latin America. This proposed project, however, which lies on the heads of three principal basins at an altitude of 4150 meters above sea level, presents grave risks of contamination for the river systems extending from its basins. Contamination caused by open-pit gold extraction and its associated activities could severely damage the social, biological and agricultural environment of the region. The project poses significant and potentially unavoidable human rights and environmental threats such as acid run-off, cyanide tailings leaks and spills, fish kills and the loss of traditional cultivation and lifestyle of the established small farmers and agricultural laborers inhabiting the region for centuries. Barrick Gold Corporation is already being criticized for alleged human rights violations for its discrimination and neglect for the consultation and participation of the population of the region, as well as facing international criticism that its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is flawed and does not fulfill the requirements of Peruvian national legislation. Background information Fact Sheet Alto Chicama Fact Sheet Alto Chicama en castillano Latest news Monday, April 19, 2004 Toronto-based Barrick Gold will start construction shortly of its USD340 million Alto Chicama gold mine in northwest Peru's Libertad department, company spokesperson Vince Borg told BNAmericas.com. "Equipment is being mobilized to the site," said Borg, adding that road building had been going on for the last few months. Capital investment of USD211mn is anticipated in Alto Chicama this year, he said. Essential reading • Ministerio de Energía y Minas, Perú: Proyecto Minero Alto Chicama (spanish language) Essential links No links for essential reading Essential contacts BothEnds – info@bothends.org Hoja Verde – chojaverde@terra.com.pe |