Peru advances lithium exploration permitting

Peru approved the environmental impact statement for American Lithium's Quelcaya project, which is operated by Macusani Yellowcake.

Macusani also owns the country’s main lithium deposit, Falchani. CEO Ulises Solís said Falchani's semi-detailed environmental impact study will be submitted this month. Macusani claims 4.7Mt of lithium carbonate in inferred and indicated resources.

"According to our schedule, we can start lithium extraction by 2027. [Apart from the permits], we need authorities to speed up the evaluation," Solís told a local broadcaster. He added that the company also plans to install a refinery to process the mineral in Peru.

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Copper miner Las Bambas, owned by China’s MMG, received the green light to build three schools in Apurímac region for 30.6mn soles (US$8.3mn) under the works-for-taxes program.

Las Bambas will build and equip the schools, according to investment promotion agency ProInversión. This is the first such approval this year.

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The energy and mines ministry is advancing with Southern Copper's US$1.4bn Tía María project.

Energy and mines minister Óscar Vera said in a statement that the asset is part of the government's mining reactivation plans. "There is work with the communities [within the area of influence] that we have started, and we have made a whole strategy in coordination with the authorities. We expect better news in the coming months," Vera told local media RPP.

Tía María is projected to produce 120,000t/y. "It will be our priority to hire local labor to cover the 9,000 jobs that we expect to generate during the construction phase," the company said in its latest results presentation.