Antamina rejects acts that seek to obstruct clean up activities in Santa Rosa

Campania Minera Antamina expresses its strong opposition to the attitude of a group of people who for the past 48 hours have been obstructing the access of company personnel to our valve station known as the VS1 valve station.   This illegal act is interfering with our immediate actions aimed at performing cleanup activities associated with the accidental rupture of the lower section of a pipe elbow that created a copper concentrate leak. 

As previously communicated, last Wednesday, July 25th, in the Santa Rosa community, the Cajatay District, Province of Bolognesi in the Ancash Region, the above mentioned concentrate leak occurred  with most of the concentrate captured and contained inside  the contingency well and another smaller amount in an adjacent area.

The company´s cleanup equipment is assigned very specific instructions about what tasks need to be completed in this type of events. We fail to understand the reasons for blocking the access of the special emergency teams, which only seek to bring about an immediate solution to this fortuitous incident.   

We call upon all citizens to reflect about the risks associated with obstructing this cleanup which is technical.  Any delays in starting this work for reasons beyond our control could lead to situations of risk that are essential and prudent to avoid. Antamina also wishes to clarify that no amount of concentrate has fallen into the Fortaleza River as has already been verified by the pertinent authorities. 

As you well know, we are acting with complete awareness and responsibility in accordance with established procedures for this type of events.  Our company has spared no cost in providing immediate medical attention to the people of Santa Rosa who showed any type of discomfort during this incident and fortunately everyone is under the observation of the health care authorities and in stable condition.

We have also learned that the road between Pativilca and Conococha (near the village of Santa Rosa) is blocked and obstructing the free flow of transit.

Finally, we are concerned that third parties seek to force the inception of situations of social conflict in this single, isolated and accidental event.   We invoke the assistance and cooperation of the authorities in recovering respect for the law and that our personnel are given all necessary access so they can carry out the required cleanup work as soon and effectively as possible.
 

Huaraz, July 27th, 2012

Office of Corporate Communications
Compania Minera Antamina