Peru cancels Tia Maria copper mine project after protests: BBC

The Peruvian government has cancelled a billion-dollar copper mining project near Arequipa, Peru, after clashes between police and protesters left three dead last week, BBC News reported:

The mining ministry said the environmental impact assessment presented for the $1bn (£600m) project was “inadmissible”.

Local residents had been protesting against the proposed mine, saying it could contaminate water supplies.

The Tia Maria project is located near the city of Arequipa in southern Peru.

It was being developed by Southern Copper, the world’s second-biggest copper stage.mining.company, and was meant to start production in 2012.

Southern Copper will need to present a new environmental study if it wishes to pursue the project, says the BBC.