LIMA (Reuters) – Peru’s Congress removed Energy and Mines minister Romulo Mucho from his post on Tuesday amid protests from small-scale miners in the Andean nation.
Peruvian small-scale miners have been demanding a two-year extension of a program that allows them to operate temporarily, which authorities say has expanded illegal mining.
President Dina Boluarte must accept Congress’ decision within 72 hours and appoint a new energy and mines minister, an important position in the world’s third-largest copper producer and a market segment key to the local economy.
The congressional panel which ruled on Mucho’s position was made up of nearly 80 legislators from both sides of the aisle. Of them, four voted against his removal and 13 lawmakers abstained from the vote.
A government bill sent to Congress last week gave small-scale miners a six-month period to formalize their activities after the current program expires on Dec. 31, but miners say that is not enough time.
(Reporting by Marco Aquino; Editing by Anthony Esposito and Kylie Madry)
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