Peru’s environmental agency OEFA has ruled out that a “greenish discharge” found in a river near Southern Copper Corp’s Cuajone mine were the product of a tailings spill.
In a statement late Tuesday the OEFA noted it was still supervising operations at the mine, which is located in an area hit by heavy rains over the past week.
Southern Copper suspended the copper ore concentrator at the mine on Friday as a precaution, and said it wouldn’t restart it for another three to five days while work is done on its tailings and railway infrastructure affected by the unusual weather.
Mining is a key industry in Peru, which is also the world’s second largest silver producer, and the sixth when it comes to gold. The sector accounts for about 60% of the Andean nation’s export earnings.
Tailings dams are coming under increasing scrutiny following the collapse at Vale’s Córrego do Feijão iron ore mine in Brazil last month, the second such accident involving the same company in about three years.
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