Peru is the world’s third-largest copper producer, making the sector’s sustainability globally significant.
Copper mining at altitude in arid and semi-arid Andean settings presents a distinctive impact profile. It is energy and water intensive in catchments shared with agriculture and settlements, transforms land in ecosystems of biodiversity and cultural importance, generates large volumes of mine waste in seismically active terrain, and has left a legacy of environmental liabilities.
This case study is part of a broader project focused on strengthening supply chain resilience through analysis of the environmental and associated social impacts of critical minerals using case studies of nickel, lithium, and copper.
It examines the environmental challenges and associated social issues arising from both industrial and artisanal copper mining in Peru.
The conclusions and lessons learned from this case study can inform sustainable approaches to copper mining and processing in Peru as well as other jurisdictions.
