Balancing Enforcement and Stability: Peru Purges Non-Compliant Miners

On July 4, 2025, Peru’s Energy Ministry removed over 50,000 informal miners from the REINFO formalization program due to prolonged non-compliance. While the government framed the move as a necessary step to uphold legal standards, affected miners argue the purge was abrupt and threatens their livelihoods. The decision has sparked protests in key mining regions and exposed the fragile balance between formal enforcement and social stability in Peru’s extractive sector.