In the face of the social upheaval that marked the end of 2022 and the beginning of 2023 in Peru, Hudbay was faced with the challenge of navigating through large-scale protests and property destruction triggered by an abrupt presidential change. The effect of this nationwide social unrest on Constancia was relatively minor; however, in January 2023, political agitators, who were not affiliated with the nearby communities, protested outside of Constancia’s gates. Fortunately, though some community-owned equipment was set on fire, the protest did not result in any injuries.
Soon after this protest, the government was contacted to request military and police support to protect our personnel and assets. The government’s resources were stretched thin during this period of unrest, but we were able to negotiate a service agreement with the national police to ensure 24/7 security at Constancia. Each time national police are on site, we provide training on the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights.
Constancia experienced no further protests in 2023. This was not only attributed to the presence of police forces but also to the rejection of violence against us by our neighbouring communities, highlighting the importance of the relationships we have with these communities.