Construction on the mining project has been on hold since the protests began last year. The protesters reacted angrily to the project managers’ offer to build reservoirs that would ensure regular water supplies instead of the lakes’ seasonal flows.
The protesters argue emptying of the lakes to open the area for gold mining will destroy their livelihood, contaminate ground water resources and irrevocably ruin the area.
Conga is said to hold 6.5 million ounces of gold and 1.7 billion pounds of copper.
Cajamarca Regional President Gregorio Santos, one of the anti-mining activists, said residents won’t allow the lakes to be turned into open-pit mines. He called the project non-viable.
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