OMI's 5 Urgent Measure Call Against the Illegal Mining Crisis in Peru

To halt the devastation caused by illegal mining in Peru, the Observatorio de Minería Ilegal (OMI) has called for urgent action from the newly elected government, proposing five key measures. Among these measures are the complete closure of the long-controversial Reinfo program, the inspection of mining processing plants, and the implementation of mechanisms to combat corruption within the Ministry of Energy and Mines (Minem). OMI is also calling for the punishment of illegal miners who harm the environment and a ban on issuing new mining exploration licenses along riverbanks, emphasizing that the issue is not just an economic crime but also a serious security and ecological crisis. In this context, the observer organization notes that current policies are insufficient and that the state must re-establish its control over the gold chain.

In the national political arena, the approaches of the Fuerza Popular and Juntos por el Perú parties, which have advanced to the second round of elections, regarding illegal mining have been put under the microscope. In an assessment by OMI, both parties were criticized for having 'different yet insufficient' approaches in their election programs against this growing problem and for failing to take concrete steps to eliminate the current Reinfo mechanism. OMI Representative César Ipenza argued that the parties cannot solve the problem by methods such as temporarily extending the regime or changing the name of the current mechanism; the real solution is for the state to increase its governance capacity and establish effective oversight over the entire value chain of gold mining. Statements also highlighted the lack of a necessary legal framework, active presence of police and armed forces on the ground, and strategies to prevent large mining companies from acting like small-scale ones.

This struggle, not limited to political discussions, continues with operations on the ground in the Madre de Dios region of the country's Amazon forests. Last Tuesday, a large-scale operation was conducted against the Inambari and Tambopata regions in cooperation with the police and the prosecutor's office. Led by the Southern Operations Command and with the participation of the II Forest Brigade for the Protection of the Amazon, the operation destroyed 17 camp areas and 13 makeshift miner barges linked to illegal mining activities. It was announced that the total value of materials destroyed in situ was 5 million 605 thousand 60 sol, and numerous motors and processing equipment were also neutralized.

The operations not only reveal economic losses but also security risks of international dimensions. It was emphasized in the continuation of the report that illegal mining activities cause not only environmental destruction but are also directly linked to organized crime groups such as human trafficking, drug smuggling, and assassinations. In this context, details were shared recalling intelligence information that armed groups of Colombian origin are establishing training centers on Peruvian soil, threatening national security. The targeting of poor communities in the region and the occupation of indigenous lands reveal that the problem is not just a violation of law but also a humanitarian crisis. It was stated that such operations aim to cut off both environmental pollution and the accompanying crime revenue networks.

On the other hand, the proposals submitted to the government demand not only control mechanisms but also systematic change. According to OMI, the most critical thing to do in the coming period is not to maintain superficial transition arrangements but to regain the state's ability to oversee the entire process from gold supply to sale. As stated by César Ipenza, the failure of current policies to prevent large-scale illegal mining from masquerading as small mining necessitates a new strategy. Considering the threats faced by indigenous peoples and environmental defenders, the new government is expected to act with a comprehensive and holistic plan involving police and military presence, rather than just short-term solutions. This is of vital importance, especially for bringing transparency to the gold production chain and closing illegal financing channels.