Community Strike Enters 73rd Day
By mid-September 2025, the campesino community of Uchuccarcco, in the district of Chamaca (province of Chumbivilcas, Cusco), has been on an indefinite strike for 73 days. The focus of the protest is the demand that Hudbay Peru send its top executive (CEO Peter Kukielski) to personally engage in dialogue. While technical meetings have been held, community leaders say representatives of Hudbay don’t seem empowered to make commitments, and the meetings end with promises but no concrete decisions.
Grievances Over Water, Land, and Local Benefits
Uchuccarcco’s community accuses Hudbay of causing environmental harm — they say bofedales and natural springs (“manantiales”) have disappeared since mining operations intensified. They also claim that the company has fences (“cercados”) exceeding the authorized boundaries, encroaching on communal land. Key demands include enforcement of social investment (“fondo social”), greater access to local employment, and clarity over land rights. Hudbay denies significant contamination claims, insisting that their operations comply with existing regulations—but the community maintains that the impacts are already visible and harmful.
Implications for Hudbay’s Social License & Risk
The protracted strike reflects a broader challenge for Hudbay: without addressing the community’s demands substantively, their social license is under threat. Uchuccarcco is insisting on presence by the CEO, signaling that technical or mid-level engagement is not sufficient. If the conflict isn’t resolved, the risks include potential operational delays, reputational damage, legal or regulatory scrutiny, and escalating local opposition. For the community, withholding the strike hinges on commitments that reach the top of Hudbay’s decision-making.