https://larepublica.pe/economia/1486147-litio-macusani-yellowcake-puno-denuncian-minera-macusani-habria-respetado-norma-exploracion-litio Puno: Mining company Macusani (Yellowcake) would not have respected environmental standards for lithium exploration They do not oppose to mining investment, as long as the rules and the current social license are respected. This was stated by the mayor of the district of Corani, in Puno, Edmundo Caceres, who denounced that the discovery of lithium by the mining company Macusani Yellowcake, in 2018, did not have environmental certification.
"When the Ministry of Energy and Mines reaches the letter 446, on March 13, in all the reports we found that explorations were carried out in our area without authorization, we are concerned because they have damaged the environment, and have not respected the rights of the peasant communities of the place", he said this morning in a local media.
The mayor said that the company, which also explores for uranium in the area, would have caused environmental damage by drilling the subsoil to make the discovery". We do not know if they damaged the water branches, but it should be clear that we do not oppose to mining investment", he said, adding that although Puno is one of the regions with several mining activities, it does not contribute to National GDP.
On the other hand, he denounced that the Regional Office of the Ministry of Energy and Mines in Puno wanted to hold a participatory workshop on May 27 for a new mining exploration in another area, even though it is not its competence. "Fortunately, they stepped aside and said they will not interfere, we have already sent a document to the Ministry of Energy and Mines, pointing out the interference", he said.
Macusani responds
In response to the mayor's statements, Macusani Yellowcake's general manager, Ulises Solis, informed "La Repblica" that - indeed - the company would not have waited for the approval of its environmental certification before the Regional Directorate of Energy and Mines to perform the lithium explorations in the district of Corani.
"It's true we do not have the approved environmental instrument but that does not mean we did not start it (February 2019), as well as the informative workshops before the community [...] We could not wait, because (the community) required us to work", he said. .
Likewise, he indicated that the OEFA has already initiated a sanctioning process against which the company has raided. "There is still no formal sanction, but they have forced us to paralyze the perforations (case of uranium) and close gates, which we have complied with", he added, pointing out that in the case of lithium, no drilling would have been carried out as stated by the mayor of Corani, denying possible contamination.