In Peru’s Cusco region, nearly 20,000 informal miners suspended negotiations with the government after rejecting an August 17 deadline that requires them to relocate explosives into certified storage facilities. The measure is part of the long-running formalization process designed to improve safety and traceability in artisanal mining. Miners argued that the requirement is economically unfeasible for small operators, and union leaders warned that failure to comply would expel thousands from the official registry, stripping them of their legal status.
This breakdown in dialogue follows earlier waves of protest that had blocked critical copper transport routes used by major companies. The government has insisted that strict enforcement is necessary to meet safety and environmental standards, but the rigid application of rules has alienated miners who initially entered the process hoping for gradual pathways to formality. With negotiations suspended, the risk of new demonstrations has increased, raising concerns for both regional stability and the mining industry’s supply chains.
The impasse illustrates a broader challenge in governance: strict regulation without flexibility can erode trust and participation in formalization efforts. If the government fails to adjust its approach, it may deepen the divide between formal and informal actors, weakening the legitimacy of the process itself. Restoring dialogue and designing practical compliance pathways will be crucial for sustaining social license and ensuring that regulation supports, rather than destabilizes, Peru’s mining sector.
Issue Profile – Peru Informal Mining Formalization
Lead Actors: CONFEMIN (miners’ union), Peruvian Government
Focus: Explosives storage compliance under the REINFO formalization program
Update (Aug 2025): Miners suspend talks; ~20,000 risk expulsion from registry
Strategic Significance: Inclusive regulation and trust are central to securing social license