Peru to spur gold processing plants in formalization drive, minister says

The government is also coordinating operatives to destroy illegal mining operations in protected areas, and is working to control fuel and mercury supplies, register machinery and process 70,000 applications to register concessions, Merino said. At least another 280,000 people depend on the informal mining industry, he said.
Informal miners seek access to technology so they depend less on using mercury and are also looking to list their contracts and machinery in a public registry, Merino said.
"The government has clearly separated illegal mining from small-scale mining, which can be formalized. It's a challenge to carry this out in the shortest time-frame possible," Merino said. "In illegal mining, we practically have to fight the mafias who are destroying the jungle."
http://www.bnamericas.com/news/mining/peru-to-spur-gold-processing-plants-in-formalization-drive-minister-says