Peru Govt Seen Willing To Resolve Bear Creek Mine DisputeLast update: 4/12/2012 9:15:18 AM
LIMA (Dow Jones)--Peru's government is showing a willingness to resolve a dispute that led to the suspension almost a year ago of mining projects in parts of the southern state of Puno, which affected Bear Creek Mining's Santa Ana silver mine project, a high-level Canadian government official said.
Canada's Minister for International Trade Ed Fast said in a meeting with journalists late Wednesday that, "There is a commitment to resolve this dispute."
Fast was in Lima for meetings with various government ministers and others on a number of issues.
"I believe that the Peruvian government knows that it is important to recognize its commitments," he said.
In May last year, Peru's government suspended approval of mining projects in parts of the southern state of Puno, following violent anti-mining protests.
As well as suspending mining claims in four districts of Puno, the government also suspended the approval of the environmental impact study for the Santa Ana project. Receiving approval of that study is necessary for a project to proceed.
Canada's Bear Creek has said the Santa Ana project could be a low-cost silver mine producing five million ounces annually in the first six years of an estimated 11-year mine life.
Peru is the world's second largest producer of silver.
-By Robert Kozak, Dow Jones Newswires; 51-99927 7269;
peru@dowjones.com(END) Dow Jones Newswires
April 12, 2012 09:15 ET (13:15 GMT)