Peru gold miner Poderosa says new criminal attack leaves one dead By Reuters

LIMA (Reuters) – Poderosa, one of Peru’s biggest gold miners, said on Wednesday it faced a new attack by “criminals” linked to illegal mining at one of its facilities in the Andean nation, which left one dead security guard.

Another person was injured after inhaling toxic fumes in the attack in the Amazonian province of Pataz, Poderosa said in a statement in which he also offered condolences to the family of the security guard, an employee of the Huayna SAC security firm.

Armed criminals attacked a facility with explosives, an incident that began before 5pm on Tuesday and continued well past midnight.

This year, the company said a blackout and attacks on electricity towers were caused by illegal miners, and in December a raid left nine dead and 15 injured at a Poderosa mine. In the past two years, at least 30 people have been killed nationwide in armed attacks on gold mines.

“Despite the significant police presence in Pataz, these attacks against our operations have not stopped,” Poderosa said.

“This spiral of violence is a response to the exponential growth of illegal mining in collusion with organized crime, an alliance that operates with absolute impunity.”

It has asked Congress not to extend the mandate of a formalization program for small-scale miners, known as REINFO, which is due to expire at the end of the year, accusing it of enabling illegal mining.

The miner also called on the state to strengthen its efforts against illegal mining and increase control of processing plants that receive the products of illegal mines.

Peru is a major global gold producer.