Initial situation

Mining in Peru has a long history, and it is becoming increasingly important for the country. In 1997, 40% of the country's total exports, worth USD 2.7 billion, were mined products. In 2006 this had grown to 62%, with a value of some USD 14.7 billion.
Copper, gold, zinc, lead, and iron are mined; the main sources are in the Andes.
In addition to economic advantages, the high level of mining activity has also had its effect on the environment. In 2004 the Peruvian government passed a law to protect the environment from the consequences of mining. This was followed in 2006 by a provisional survey conducted for the ministry of mining and energy the results of which are somewhat inconsistent of environmental damage caused by mining at some 850 locations in six departments.

Approach

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), in Washington D.C., has put consulting services for the support of economic and environmental policy objectives in Latin America out to international tender. One result has been the contract to develop a strategy for the environmental damage caused by mining in Peru. It includes an analysis of the problem, the development of a targeted strategy for the integrated management of mining rehabilitation, the evaluation of methods in use elsewhere and the recommendation of preferred variants for use in Peru, as well as drafting a problem definition for an action plan to assess and prioritise contamination caused by mining.

Result

After completing its research LMBV developed and submitted a new strategy for dealing with the environmental damage caused by mining in Peru.