Extended temporary permits for informal miners via REINFO

Peru’s Congress extended the REINFO program until June 30, 2025, with the option for further renewal. Created in 2012 to help informal miners legalize operations, the program has seen repeated extensions due to delays and lobbying. While over 85,000 miners are registered, only 4% to 21% have fully formalized. The latest extension aims to safeguard livelihoods and allow more time for compliance. However, critics warn REINFO has become a loophole, enabling mining in protected areas and fostering non-compliance. Environmental damage, labor violations, and ties to organized crime have fueled calls for stricter oversight and a rethinking of the program’s long-term role.