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Peru intensifies its fight against illegal mining and kicks out most informal miners from the permit scheme

The Peruvian government kicked out 50,565 miners from a temporary program which allowed them to continue their operations.

Minister Jorge Montero said to a local radio station that only 31,560 miner will be included in the formalization program. The government will also intensify its efforts to combat illegal mining.

The government stated that at least 45,000 excluded miners have not been active in the past four years.

The REINFO program was launched in 2012, and it was intended to be a temporary measure that would formalize the illegal mining. Since then, it has been extended several times and criticized as a tool to enable illegal mining.

The government has tried to shut down the program.

The program was met with protests, and the government announced in late June that it would be extended until 2025.

The protests continue, however. There has been a blockade of parts of Peru.

key copper corridor

The miners demanded "unconditional legalization" earlier in the week.

The temporary permit has been used by many workers to mine in areas that are prohibited or on third-party land without complying with environmental or labor regulations.

According to authorities

Private mining companies are also available.

In the past few years, this has led to violent clashes between miners and their workers, which have resulted in dozens of deaths. Even President Dina Boluarte was forced to intervene.

Temporarily suspend mining

After 13 gold miners were kidnapped, and murdered in the north of the country.

(source: Reuters)