Southern Copper Corporation is under scrutiny following allegations that it has been linked to the criminalization of environmental and human rights defenders opposing its Tía María and La Tapada mining projects in Peru. The concerns center around the use of legal warnings and potential restrictions on the right to protest, raising questions about the company’s response to community opposition and the protection of activists.
The Tía María project, a major copper mining operation in the Tambo Valley, Arequipa region, has been a source of conflict for over 16 years. Local communities have voiced concerns about the project’s potential environmental impact, particularly regarding water resources, and its effects on their livelihoods. The ongoing construction, approved by the Peruvian government in October 2025, is proceeding despite unresolved community concerns, according to a report published on March 14, 2026 by Peru Support Group.
Prosecutor’s Warnings and Concerns Over Protest Restrictions
In February 2025, community leaders, environmental defenders, farmers, and residents of the Tambo Valley initiated peaceful protests against the Tía María and La Tapada projects. Shortly after the protests began, several defenders received “preventive warnings” from the Islay Provincial Criminal Prosecutor’s Office, urging them to avoid actions that could disturb public order or pose risks to public safety. As reported by EUSEE, civil society actors argue these warnings threaten activists and seek to criminalize social movements, potentially leading to a deterioration in the environment for environmental activists.
While these warnings are not formal complaints or investigations, critics fear they could be misused to suppress dissent and restrict the right to protest. The Business and Human Rights Resource Centre invited Southern Copper to respond to the allegations but, as of March 16, 2026, the company had not responded to the claims of judicial harassment targeting 20 environmental human rights defenders.
Historical Context and Recent Developments
Opposition to the Tía María project has a long history, with significant protests occurring in 2007, 2014, and 2017. While recent protests have been less forceful, local leaders have shown a greater willingness to engage in negotiations. Demonstrations took place on December 16 and 17 regarding the validity of the project’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), but a ruling on the EIA is still pending. The Ministry of Energy and Mines (Minem) initially approved the project in October 2025.
The situation is further complicated by a broader context of militarized responses to protests in southern Peru, stemming from events in Puno and elsewhere in 2022, where 49 people lost their lives. This history has eroded trust in Southern Copper within the local community. The project is part of a larger mining cluster in southern Peru aimed at meeting growing demand for copper in the Asia Pacific region and supporting the development of new port facilities.
Critical Minerals and Climate Security Concerns
The push to advance the Tía María project is occurring as Peru seeks to capitalize on the global transition towards renewable energy and the increasing demand for critical minerals like copper. However, mining operations in Latin America have been linked to environmental problems, including water and air pollution, deforestation, and conflicts over land and water use. A report by adelphi highlights the need for responsible business conduct to mitigate these risks and ensure that critical mineral production contributes to, rather than hinders, climate goals.
The Tía María project is expected to come online in 2027, but its future remains uncertain as it navigates ongoing community concerns and legal challenges. The lack of community consent continues to be a significant obstacle to the project’s legitimacy.
What comes next will depend on the outcome of the EIA ruling and Southern Copper’s willingness to address community concerns and engage in meaningful dialogue with local stakeholders. The situation underscores the broader challenges of balancing economic development with environmental protection and human rights in the context of critical mineral mining in Latin America.
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