Management of mining environmental liabilities in Peru - 2025

Abstract

Peru's mining history stretches back millennia, encompassing everything from pre-Incan cultures to the modern industry, profoundly shaping the country's economy and development. It is a blend of culture, tradition, ancestral skills, and mining experience across all production levels (large-scale, medium-scale, small-scale, and artisanal). This diverse range of technical, productive, and even regulatory complexities has unfortunately also generated what are known as "Mining Environmental Liabilities," despite some progress in remediation and closure. This article aims to document the progress made in managing Mining Environmental Liabilities (PAM, for its Spanish acronym) in Peru. The methodology is based on a review of documents issued by the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MINEM) and Activos Mineros SAC (AMSAC), the public entities responsible for PAM management. As a result, the evolution of the PAM inventory and the progress made in PAM management in Peru are presented. leading to conclusions where it is possible to observe considerable progress in the management and opportunities of a circular economy and international cooperation, generating value in the management of Mining Environmental Liabilities in Peru.