Overview

• At Perumin 37, Ángel Manero said that in scarcity the state should prioritize water for mining over agriculture because mining generates immediate fiscal flows, adding that population supply would still come first.
• Hours later on RPP, the minister said his remarks were taken out of context and described them as a theoretical, academic scenario while highlighting planned irrigation and water storage projects.
• Lawmakers and regional authorities criticized the idea and pointed to the national framework that prioritizes human consumption and food-security uses before extractive activities.
• Business and sector groups offered mixed reactions, with ComexPerú and AGAP rejecting the either-or framing and mining executive Roque Benavides backing project advances under a “hermandad del agua” approach.
• Agrarian and environmental organizations such as ANPE Perú called for Manero’s resignation and legislators signaled congressional oversight, but no removals or policy changes have been announced.