On July 2–4, 2025, thousands of informal miners organized coordinated protests across Peru, targeting strategic copper transport routes and supply chains. Road blockades disrupted shipments for major mining companies, highlighting how these groups have evolved from fragmented economic actors into a politically coordinated force. Their demonstrations were sparked by the government’s decision to remove more than 50,000 miners from the REINFO formalization program, a move many saw as an existential threat to their livelihoods. Protest leaders demanded new policies that would allow easier re-enrollment, more flexible compliance rules, and recognition of their economic contributions.
Observers noted that this wave of protests marks a turning point: informal miners are no longer acting solely out of desperation but are deliberately leveraging their capacity to disrupt a critical sector. High commodity prices have given them confidence that the state and formal mining companies cannot ignore their demands without risking serious economic and political consequences. This strategic use of pressure tactics—road closures, mass demonstrations, and alliances with local leaders—signals that informal miners have matured into a political constituency capable of influencing national debate and shaping public policy.
The rise of informal miners as a powerful political bloc underscores why social license to operate is no longer an optional consideration in Peru’s mining sector. Their growing influence highlights that legal permits and enforcement alone are insufficient when communities feel excluded or threatened. Without credible pathways to formalization and sustained dialogue, informal miners can mobilize quickly to disrupt operations, erode trust in institutions, and weaken the legitimacy of both the government and large-scale mining companies. To protect long-term stability, Peru must approach this challenge as more than a compliance issue—it is fundamentally about rebuilding social license through transparent engagement, shared benefits, and respect for local livelihoods.