The Energy and Mines Commission of the Chamber of Deputies, chaired by legislator Yenifer Paredes, sister-in-law of the coup leader Pedro Castillo, reversed the work plan it presented last week which sought to carry out surprise visits to private mining companies and open the way for Confemin to parliamentary sessions.
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The setback occurred after observations from several deputies from the Renovación Popular and Fuerza Popular benches, who warned this newspaper about the Board of Directors’ intention to favor a certain sector of informal miners and to carry out unconstitutional political control over private companies.
On Monday, September 7, the commission members received the new proposal in their offices, which was put to a vote this Tuesday. Everyone supported the new content after alerts about the original 16-page plan, which bore the signature of Paredes Navarro. The vote was unanimous.
In the new plan, the possibility of carrying out surprise visits and political control of private mining companies was eliminated. Additionally, the participation of industry representatives in work sessions was expanded to include, along with artisanal miners, the owners of medium and large mining operations and business guilds linked to the activity.
Experts consulted by El Comercio considered that this modification corrected the work path the commission will have under Paredes’ presidency. However, they said the commission should include as guests those affected by illegal mining and coordinate with other commissions to address actions in this mining sector.
—Official Changes—
In the new 22-page work plan, the commission indicated that it will exercise political control over public and autonomous bodies and instances in the mining-energy sector. Likewise, it will monitor illegal activities linked to this sector — particularly illegal mining — without replacing the administrative oversight competencies of Osinergmin, OEFA, Sunafil, or other Executive bodies.
Regarding decentralized public hearings, the commission decided there will be plural participation of small and formal artisanal miners, owners of medium and large mining operations, peasant and native communities in the area of influence of regional and local governments, specialized public bodies, among others.
Before this modification, the commission proposed in the previous 16-page work plan that Energy and Mines include artisanal miners as participants in decentralized sessions and working groups, with a clear intention to open the doors to an informal mining sector: Confemin.
—Field Visits—
Regarding the point related to field visits, the commission proposed surprise visits to public and private works under execution, as well as to public and private establishments related to the energy and mining sectors, to verify the proper use of public resources.
However, in the new work plan, the private sector aspect was removed. The commission agreed to carry out field visits to public works under execution, as well as to public establishments related to the energy and mining sector.
In the document accessed by this newspaper, the working group made it clear that entry to private property or private company facilities will require express authorization issued by the company owner.
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During the session, deputy Frank Krklec, from Renovación Popular, recalled that his bench proposed changes to the work plan and highlighted that the issue was noted by the media.
In turn, Haydee Poma, from Juntos por el Perú, asked Paredes Navarro to record in the minutes her request for the commission to oversee two axes: prioritize the Mape Law and summon officials from the Energy and Mines sector to demand closing gaps and infrastructure.
Before concluding the session, it was agreed to summon the Minister of Energy and Mines, Guillermo Shinno, on September 15, so that he presents the sector’s general policy during the third ordinary session of the working group.
—Analysis—
César Ipenza, an expert in mining issues, indicated that authorities will have to listen to all voices and not only those who generate the problem, but also those affected.
“They should summon those affected by pollution from illegal activity,” he stated.
Regarding the point of entering private mines, he considered it a good correction because deputies are not a judicial authority to enter private property.
“With that logic, any legislator could enter your home. The issue of listening to voices should not be limited only to informal miners from Confemin,” he added.
In turn, Iván Arenas, also a mining expert, stated that the commission corrected “for the better the previous draft.”
“However, it must coordinate work with other commissions to address the delicate issue of illegal mining in native communities, for example,” he added.
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