Peru Plans Registration System to Regulate Informal Miners

The Peruvian government plans to establish a new licensing mechanism for informal miners, granting them two years to meet compliance requirements. This copper-rich nation is grappling with rampant illegal mining. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Energy and Mines stated that the ministry will submit the relevant proposal to Congress this week. The new mechanism aims to regulate artisanal and small-scale mining activities. The proposal intends to legalize approximately 30,000 miners by the end of 2028, replacing the current Integrated Mining Registry System (Reinfo). Industry insiders believe the Reinfo system has been used to shield illegal mining activities and will expire at the end of this year.