Tintaya Copper Mine
TINTAYA COPPER MINE: CHRONOLOGY
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| By: Diego Nebel/Oxfam |
Post 1980
Peruvian government expropriates 2,368 hectares of land for developing the Tintaya copper mine in Yauri, Espinar Province, Department of Cusco. (One hectare equals 2.45 acres.)
1994
Mine privatized and acquired by US-based Magma Copper.
1996
BHP-Billiton acquires Magma Copper and a 99.94% interest in the Tintaya copper mine. BHP-Billiton acquires 1,263 hectares of Tintaya Marquiri Community land for the purpose of building a copper oxide plant and increasing the capacity of the mine.
1996
BHP-Billiton acquires 246 hectares of Alto Huancane Community land in order to ensure greater security of a tailings dam (waste disposal area).
Post 1996
BHP-Billiton continues to acquire land for exploration and waste disposal.
2000
Oxfam Australia- Community Aid Abroad is requested by Oxfam America and the Communities Affected by Mining in Peru (CONACAMI) to take up the Tintaya case with BHP-Billiton head office in Australia.
2001
Oxfam Australia Mining Ombudsman carries out a field investigation of the communities affected by the Tintaya mine, working in conjunction with Oxfam America and partners CONACAMI and CooperAcción. An initial dialogue meeting is held in Lima, facilitated by the Oxfam Australia Mining Ombudsman. Participants include BHP-Billiton, CONACAMI and its regional representatives from Cusco, Oxfam America, CooperAcción and the Municipality of Espinar.
2002
Mining Ombudsman writes to Ian Wood (Vice President of Sustainability, BHP-Billiton) outlining community concerns and recommendations from site investigations. Jaap Zwaan (President of BHP-Billiton Tintaya Mine) expresses a desire to investigate community grievances in response to the Mining Ombudsman letter.
2002
The first meeting of the "Mesa de Diàlogo" (Dialogue Table), a negotiation process developed following the Oxfam Australia Mining Ombudsman visit in December 2001. The Mesa de Diàlogo is intended to address the concerns of communities affected by the Tintaya mine. The participants include BHP-Billiton, CooperAcción , CONACAMI and its regional representative CORECAMI, the Mayor of Espinar, CODEPE, and Oxfam America. Four commissions are established to address specific community concerns: the Land Commission, Human Rights Commission, Sustainable Development Commission, and Environmental Commission.