The President of the Chamber of Mines of Peru and ECLAC representatives discussed important issues for the sector.
Engineer César Gallardo, President of the Chamber of Mines of Peru, met with the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) representatives to discuss water scarcity in mining and energy efficiency in mining companies. These subjects represent a very important problem for the development of the sector at present and in coming years.
«Water scarcity in mining is an issue of great concern to The Chamber of Mines of Peru. Though it is important to use this resource in all mining operations, it is even more important to optimize it and reduce its use considerably. Likewise, energy efficiency is one of the sector’s main challenges yet to be met», said Engineer Gallardo.
He also remarked, «It is essential to exchange knowledge concerning the projects that are being carried out in different Latin American countries to address this problem. That is why this meeting with ECLAC representatives is fundamental to continue on the path of responsible and sustainable mining; as well as to generate an optimization of resources, which are principles promoted by The Chamber of Mines of Peru».
René Salgado, a specialist from ECLAC’s Natural Resources and Energy Division, and José Luis Lewinsohn, a mining consultant from the same ECLAC division, indicated that they are in our country collecting updated data on the situation of the mining sector in Peru.
In addition, they explained that their institution is carrying out a project to identify the efficient use of water and energy in mining operations; therefore, it will be possible to address the problem of water scarcity in mining.
«Water and energy efficiency are the main basis for mining. We have met with different institutions such as the Ministry of Energy and Mines and the Environmental Evaluation and Enforcement Agency (OEFA) to learn how this situation is being handled in the private sector», said the specialists.
Finally, they added that in order to avoid water scarcity in mining, «the use of these resources must be under a natural resource governance, in order to transform them into public policies that are efficient for the society, the State and private companies. We therefore congratulate the work done by The Chamber of Mines of Peru in favor of responsible and sustainable mining, thereby generating an optimization of resources».
