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The Pallca Mine: Exploration at High Altitudes
The Pallca Mine: Close Communication during Exploration and Development
The Pallca Mine is located in the Andes Mountains, which range from 3,800 to 5,000 meters above sea level. It is 40 meters to the south of the Huanzala Mine, which is 220 kilometers north of Lima, the capital of Peru. In the 1960s, the Huanzala Mine was one of the first overseas mines that Japanese companies developed on their own, and it is still in operation today.
JOGMEC conducted an overseas geological survey in central Peru from fiscal 1994 to fiscal 2000 that included the Pallca area. This region exhibits strong potential for deposits of lead and zinc that run from the Huanzala Mine into the Andes Mountains. We conducted drilling surveys from fiscal 1994, although building the roads to bring equipment and materials to the area was challenging. The survey uncovered lead and zinc distributed in limestone.
Local People Participate
The Pallca Mine
Mitsui Mining and Smelting Co., Ltd. (Mitsui Mining) took over exploration based on the results of this overseas geological survey. Shaft exploration indicated 3 million tons of ore with 12 percent zinc content. Moreover, Mitsui Mining plans to continue exploration in the vicinity of the ore deposits. Ore excavated inside the Pallca Mine is currently transported to the ore dressing plant at the Huanzala Mine and converted to ore concentrate. Initial production volume is about 31,400 tons of zinc ore annually, all of which is exported to Japan. People involved in the project and many of the Indio people from a nearby settlement joined in celebrating the opening of the mine in March 2006.
JOGMEC and Mitsui Mining have diligently maintained communication with the local people from the survey and exploration stage to the development stage. We constructed roads and hired local people to assist in the survey. In addition, local people are employees of the mine, which also provides opportunities for tours. Recently, resource nationalism has been increasing in Peru, and the local people are apprehensive about environmental pollution. Other issues include dissatisfaction with the economic benefits mining companies return to the local community. Consequently, opposition to mine development has increased. However, good communication with the people living near the Huanzala Mine and the Pallca Mine has precluded such problems. Moreover, the experience gained in operating the Huanzala Mine has supported the development of the Pallca Mine.
Many local people attended the mine opening ceremony.
(Photo courtesy of Mitsui Mining and Smelting Co., Ltd.)
