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21 Mar 2023

Peru: American Lithium mining projects in Puno threaten community health, the environment and national cultural patrimony, say organisations

Valeria Cajia – DHUMA

The organisations Derechos Humanos y Medio Ambiente (DHUMA) and Earthrights International (ERI) have published the report "The face of lithium and uranium in Puno: culture, health, community rights and the environment at risk" (in Spanish). Based on literature research, fieldwork and interviews with community members and social organisations, DHUMA and ERI have identified alleged negative environmental and social impacts of the Canadian mining projects Macusani and Falchani - owned by American Lithium through its subsidiaries Plateau Energy and Macusani Yellowcake - on the communities of Puno.

According to the organisations, to date, there has been no environmental impact assessment of the mining activities. Furthermore, they concluded that it would be possible to identify environmental impacts occurring from the exploitation of lithium and uranium, including contamination of local water sources, as well as damage to human health. They also pointed out the need for a consultation process with the peasant communities of Isivilla, Tantamaco, Corani, Chimboya, Pacaje and Chacaconiza, located in the areas of potential impact.

DHUMA and ERI also demonstrated that mining activity in the area would irreversibly damage its cultural heritage, as it would be near cave paintings from the Archaic period in America, archaeological remains delimited in an Archaeological Landscape by the National Institute of Culture.

We invited American Lithium to comment on the allegations, but the company did not respond.

Company Responses

Macusani Yellowcake (part of American Lithium)

No Response

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