At the Fifth Southern Mining Framework International Conference, Southern Copper announced that it would invest US$8 billion in Peru’s multiple projects in the country, including Tía María.

In October 2019, the construction of the Tía María project with an investment of 1.4 billion U.S. dollars in the province of Eli in the southern Arequipa region was allowed to continue. In August 2020, the project was suspended due to the regulatory agency's decision to evaluate the objections of residents and local authorities to the site of the power plant.

They expressed concern about the environmental impact of Tía María and the potential for open-pit mines to damage crops and water supplies.

As the Peruvian presidential election approaches, the topic of TIAMARÍA has become the top item on the agenda of some candidates. However, the incident in 2019 is not the first. Due to strong opposition from the locals, Southern Copper stopped its construction plan twice in 2011 and 2015.

But as the Peruvian presidential election approaches, the topic of Tia María has become the top priority of some candidates' agendas, and they have expressed their views for or against the project.

Jorge Meza, the operations director of Southern Mining, said at the conference that the company is currently developing a reviewed basic concept engineering plan for the mine, and the goal is to submit it to the México Group’s board of directors for approval in April. If approved, the plan will then be submitted to relevant departments and local communities.

In addition to Tía María, the Southern Mining subsidiary is also committed to the US$2.5 billion Michiquillay and US$2 billion Los Chancas projects, as well as the expansion of its smelter, Ilo refinery and Moquegua’s Cuajone mine processing plant to increase its output from 85,000. The ton increase reaches 120,000 per day.Editor/Huang Lijun