The government of Peru, the second-largest producer of copper and zinc, expects stranded copper and zinc shipments to start returning to normal as roadblocks are largely cleared. "At the moment, the problem of protests is minimal," Oscar Vera, the newly appointed Minister of Energy and Mines, said in an interview. The mining corridor is now open and in the next few days, minerals will start to be mined. " On the sidelines of a conference in Toronto on Monday, Vera said authorities were trying to ease tensions by establishing lines of communication with the community and understanding their concerns. In many cases, conflicts have been linked to stagnant investment in local water supply and sanitation projects. The government has stepped up its efforts to ensure public works are completed.