Overview
- The Energy and Mines Commission advanced a draft that cuts the window to start operations on a concession from 30 to 15 years and raises fees and penalties.
- The text also speeds up cancellation of concessions for inactivity, even though mining timelines often run for decades from prospecting to production.
- The National Society of Industries said the measure ignores permitting, land access and financing hurdles and would chill exploration and new projects.
- The Energy and Mines Ministry and Ingemmet have opposed the draft, and Ingemmet data indicate only 17% of Peru is under formal mining concessions.
- Opinion pieces in El Comercio and Gestión warn the change could shrink formal jobs and tax revenue and give illegal mining more room to grow.