Glencore's Antapaccay copper mine in Peru said on Thursday that it did not plan to carry out its Coroccohuayco project this year or next, which has sparked protests from nearby residents and blocked roads used to transport its copper.
Residents are protesting the environmental impact of the mine on the region during decades of operation and opposing the Coroccohuayco project, which requires an investment of $590 million to extract copper and gold.
Residents of Peru's Espinar province, where Antapaccay is located, have blocked roads since Wednesday. Flavio Vanke (Flavio Huanque), one of the leaders behind the blockade, said Wednesday night that the blockade would continue indefinitely.
Antapaccay, Peru's sixth-largest copper mine, said it would hold a meeting with residents on Thursday.
MMG Ltd's fourth-largest Las Bambas copper mine in the country has also been affected by the road blockade.
Atappacay said in a statement that they support negotiations before deciding to build the Coroccohuayco project.
"the project is still in the design and feasibility study stage and its development will depend on the results of these analyses," Antapaccay said in its statement.
Espinar residents are also protesting against the government, which they believe has not accepted their demands.
