Peru’s mining industry is pushing back against a bill that would cut the life of unused concessions to 15 years from 30, arguing the measure would undermine long-cycle project development, discourage formal investment and intensify pressure from informal operators in mineral-rich areas.
The bill passed committee this week and is headed for a floor debate. If enacted, it would halve the period companies have to explore before a concession expires.
Industry groups say that timeline ignores the realities of discovery, permitting and project development, which can take decades before a deposit is identified, advanced and financed.
SNMPE Executive Director Ángela Grossheim warned the bill could trigger an “invasion of concessions,” reflecting concern that shortening holding periods would not simply accelerate development but instead increase conflict over mineral rights. In Peru, that risk is amplified by the growing overlap between formal miners and informal operators competing for control of mineralized ground.
The organization further warns that the proposal is “a blow to formal mining that could wipe out $60 billion in investments.”
Supporters of the proposal are saying small-scale miners contend major companies are hoarding scarce concessions rather than developing them, and some lawmakers have embraced shorter terms as a way to push faster use of mineral rights.
The industry’s counterargument is that time is not the same as inactivity. Peru grants concessions that allow companies to explore large areas over extended periods because exploration is inherently uncertain and development timelines are long. Compressing that runway to 15 years could disproportionately affect frontier projects, lower-probability targets and regions where social, regulatory or infrastructure constraints extend lead times.
Peru is the world’s third-largest copper producer and a major supplier of gold, silver and zinc. A concession regime perceived as less stable could therefore affect not only domestic exploration appetite but also the ability to sustain long-term supply growth in several key mined commodities.
The debate is also intersecting with electoral politics ahead of Peru’s general election in April. Conservative front-runner Rafael López Aliaga has pledged to revoke exploration permits for idle projects and redistribute them.
That direction sits uneasily beside Peru’s effort to deepen international mining ties. This month, Peru and Canada recently signed a memorandum of understanding on critical minerals and sustainable mining cooperation. Canada is Peru’s second-largest mining investor, with about $11.2 billion in assets through 67 exploration and mining companies.
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