Tintaya, Peru
In the high Andes, mining companies and communities are learning the value of open and honest communication.
Fast facts
- Resource:
- Copper
- Mine location:
- Espinar province, Peru
- Mine operator:
- Tolukuma Gold Mine
- Mine owner
- Xstrata Copper
- Affected communities:
- Tintaya Marquiri, Huisa, Alto Huarca, Alto Huancane, Huano Huano, Bajo Huancane, the Yauri township
Talking about it
There has been a long history of community complaints against the owners of the Tintaya mine in Peru. Despite this, communities and the mining company have come together to successfully resolve community concerns.
“Let’s now look for definitive solutions. I’m going to be part of the process – we must learn to manage this process” said Miguel Palacin, President of local organisation CONACAMI Peru, speaking at a community meeting about the Dialogue Table process.
The Dialogue Table improved communication and trust between the company and local communities, and has addressed the substance of many community concerns. In 2001 when the Dialogue Table first met, it would have been unlikely to think that all parties would be working together to resolve problems, however 18 months into the process there was already a level of respect and an appreciation of each other’s views.
Our land, our lives
Aniceta Magaño's land was right in the middle of the Tintaya Copper Mine, but she held on, day after day. This was in the 1980s when hundreds of people, including Aniceta, were displaced from the high Andes region. The Peruvian Government took more than 2,000 hectares of their land and gave it to a mining company to develop the Tintaya copper mine.
The mine was subsequently privatised and acquired by Magma Copper and then BHP Billiton which sold the mine in 2006 to its current owners, global mining group Xstrata.
People affected by the mine allege that the government failed to adequately compensate them for their land or gain their informed consent, with some reporting that they were forcibly evicted and threatened by mine security.
Aniceta says: "Before the mines began operating here, I worked on my land. I grew potatoes and raised my livestock and I was happy like that. I was raising my children alone because I was a widow already. After the mines came, everything was ruined. My animals have died because of the pollution and I don't have any way to make a living anymore."
Some of these problems continued after the sale of the mine to BHP Billiton.
Oxfam became involved in this case at the request of a local community support organisation, the National Coordinator of Communities Affected by Mining (CONACAMI), in early 2000.
We encouraged the owner of the mine to engage in negotiations with communities through a Mesa de Diàlogo (Dialogue Roundtable). The Dialogue Table brings together representatives from local communities, non-government organisations and the mining company to work collaboratively to resolve issues raised by the community.
A successful outcome
There are many factors that have lead to the success of the Dialogue Table as a mechanism to resolve community grievances. These include:
- Building the capacity of community members to engage in negotiation and dispute resolution processes
- Building the capacity of company representatives to engage with local people, including to understand the distinct cultural aspects of the communities involved
- Establishing trust
- Building Consensus
- Using independent facilitator able to ensure that all parties were able to participate fully and fairly
- Participation of an independent, third party to whom the communities could appeal
As a result of the Dialogue Table process, communities have received compensation, including 7,000 hectares of new farm lands, assistance with infrastructure improvements such as building roads, and a development fund to help relocated farmers restart their businesses.
Other mining companies could learn from Tintaya Dialogue Roundtable. By establishing a process for working through community grievances, companies may successfully prevent the escalation of disputes at an early stage. Importantly, companies will also demonstrate a commitment to respecting the rights of community members.