Peruvian authorities are working on a plan to maintain the presence of soldiers on a road used to transport minerals to avoid disruption to some of the world's top copper mines.
"We have a plan to keep the armed forces in close coordination," Energy and Mines Minister Oscar Vera said in an interview on Tuesday. "We're coordinating to get them to stay, and that's important."
The highway, known as the mining corridor, is owned by MMG Ltd. 's Las Bambas, Glencore Plc's Antapaccay and Hudbay Minerals Inc. Constancia was used to transport semi-finished copper to a seaport.
The road has been blocked several times, with Las Bambas a particular focus, including most recently, this year. Indigenous communities often hold protests to push for greater economic benefits for local residents. Such disruptions can delay shipments to smelters in China and elsewhere.
Vella said troops would remain along the highway to work with communities on infrastructure projects. For now, the state of emergency allows for a military presence, although that will expire soon.
