MEM drafting environmental guide for uranium exploThe Peru-Canada mineral resources reform project (Percan) is working with the mines and energy ministry (
MEM) to develop an environmental guide for uranium exploration, project director Anne Slivitzky told BNamericas.
"The country is talking now about uranium exploration, but there is no environmental guide for that," Slivitzky said. "We are working on the first environmental guide which will be available in the upcoming months."
Most of Peru's uranium exploration projects are located in southern Puno region's Macusani plateau.
Environmental aspects of uranium mining are similar to those for other minerals, but there is radioactivity associated with uranium ore that requires additional controls, according to the World Nuclear Association.
Percan was started in 2003 with financial support from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and with technical assistance from a Canadian consortium that includes consulting firms Roche and Golder, as well as the association of community colleges of Canada. The project will finish this year.
In addition to environmental aspects, the initiative supports MEM with policy and regulatory reform related to social issues, IT and decentralization.
DECENTRALIZATION
One of the main challenges of decentralizing responsibilities for small scale and artisan mining to regional governments is the high turnover of personnel, the head of Percan's regionalization area, Carlos Diez Canseco, told BNamericas.
For example, following the election of regional presidents last October, many of the officials in local governments changed. "Practically the only ones that are staying in the regions that we work in are our own personnel. They are the ones that are providing continuity in the process," Diez Canseco said.
As a result, Percan has set up certain procedures to ensure continuity at the start of new administrations.
The turnover of personnel in the national government is also of concern. A new administration will be sworn in on July 28 following the April 10 presidential election.
"What worries me most is the sustainability of what we've accomplished," Slivitzky said. "The concern we have is that when the [national] government changes, a lot of people are going to change and we are going to be here only for the first few months of the new government."
"So, we will try to finish what we have started, to do the best we can in training and leave [MEM] at its best." she said, adding that many of the Percan initiatives have already become institutionalized in the ministry.