Clean up tasks following copper concentrate leak concluded with the approval of the Santa Rosa community

Lima, June 04, 2013. – On July 25, 2012 a copper concentrate leak occurred in one of the valve stations pertaining to Antamina’s concentrate slurry pipeline in the town of Santa Rosa, District of Cajacay, Province of Bolognesi, in the Fortaleza Valley in Ancash.  Of the 45 tons of mineral concentrate that leaked from the pipeline, 42 tons were retained within the containment system designed to handle an accident of this nature.

 

While the area affected by the copper concentrate was calculated at less than one half hectare, the clean up and remedial works were executed over a greater radius in order to provide the local community with more peace of mind; local community members participated in this work and signed a document declaring its approval of the work that was executed.  It is particularly important to note that the copper concentrate that escaped from Antamina’s valve station did not reach the river or come in contact with any body of water.

 

In an interview with the press, Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, Minister of Environment, informed that the Antamina mining company has been notified of the fine which was imposed by its Ministry in first instance also specifying that “it is important to declare with absolute certainty that the company has been acting diligently and continues to act on behalf of the complete rehabilitation of this entire area”.  Antamina’s office of communications has stated that the rehabilitation of the area impacted by the copper concentrate leak concluded within the framework of a work tasks carried out together with the participation of local community members and that the trees which were removed to facilitate the cleanup work were replaced by an even greater number of seedlings.

 

With respect to the concern expressed by some community residents regarding rumors related to health side effects, the company has reported that the health officials have recently presented their results of the last medical assessment conducted in the area, a report which states that there are no individuals with any health problems associated with the incident that occurred in July of last year.  We are referring to a study conducted by the Ministry of Health through CENSOPAS, the National Center of Occupational Health and Environmental Protection for Health, the results of which make no mention of contamination.  Notwithstanding the latter, Antamina ensures that it will remain vigilant on this matter and will offer the community any guidance, support and peace of mind that it may need.  The symptoms that were experienced by some individuals on July 25, 2012 were temporary. All individuals who were treated were released within the framework of the specialized intervention that was headed by the Medical College of Peru.