On July 15, 2025, informal miners in southern Peru temporarily lifted a blockade that had disrupted one of the country’s main copper transport routes for over two weeks. The protesters, many of whom held provisional permits under the REINFO formalization program, were demanding an extension to the program’s deadline and less restrictive compliance requirements. The blockade had affected major copper producers by halting the movement of concentrate from mines in the Cusco region to coastal ports, prompting warnings from mining companies about potential production losses and export delays.
The conflict arose as the government moved to tighten oversight of the artisanal mining sector, having removed more than 50,000 inactive participants from the formalization registry. While authorities aim to regularize approximately 31,000 remaining miners by the end of the year, many in the sector argue that the current process is inaccessible and unfair. The truce announced by protest leaders includes a commitment to resume talks in Lima and to suspend roadblocks temporarily, though the situation remains delicate and unresolved.
This episode highlights the central role of social license to operate in Peru’s mining sector. The blockade revealed the underlying tensions between formal regulatory frameworks and the realities faced by local mining communities. It also demonstrated that the sustainability of mineral supply chains depends not only on legal compliance but also on inclusive dialogue, institutional trust, and perceived fairness. Unless these dimensions are addressed, similar disruptions may continue to threaten both economic stability and Peru’s global reputation as a reliable copper supplier.