La minera Southern Copper Argentina (la antigua Southern Peru Coppers Corporation absorbida por el Grupo México) quiso llevar adelante tareas de exploración de cobre diseminado en el cerro Caycayén, a unos 30 kilómetros al oeste de Chos Malal, norte de Neuquén. |
Caycayén copper mining project is rejected by the "Vecinos Autoconvocados de Chos Malal", a self sumoned neighbours' assembly, in Neuquén province.
Description:
Basic Data
| Name of conflict: | Proyecto Caycayén (Grupo Mexico) paralizado, Chos Malal, Neuquén, Argentina |
| Country: | Argentina |
| State or province: | Neuquén |
| Location of conflict: | Chos Malal |
| Accuracy of location | HIGH (Local level) |
Source of Conflict
| Type of conflict. 1st level: | Mineral Ores and Building Materials Extraction |
| Type of conflict. 2nd level: | Mineral ore exploration |
| Specific commodities: | Copper |
Project Details and Actors
| Project details | Para la etapa de exploración y en base a los estudios geológicos preliminares existente en el área se tiene previsto realizar 5 perforaciones con extracción de testigo. Para acceder al área de estudio se utilizarán las vías de acceso existentes. Sólo se requerirá el reacondicionamiento de 2,5 km. de camino existente y la apertura de 2,2 km. de accesos nuevos con un ancho máximo de 4 metros. La zona de exploración del Cerro Caycayen no reviste condiciones negativas que requieran analizar alternativas de emplazamiento. |
| Project area: | 2852 |
| Type of population | Semi-urban |
| Affected Population: | 14000 |
| Start of the conflict: | 2016 |
| Company names or state enterprises: | Southern Copper Argentina S.R.L. from Mexico Southern Peru Copper Corporation (Subsidiary of Grupo Mexico) from United States of America Grupo Mexico from Mexico |
| Relevant government actors: | Dirección de Minería Gobierno provincial. Intendente y concejales de Chos Malal. |
| Environmental justice organizations (and other supporters) and their websites, if available: | Vecinos Autoconvocados de Chos Malal. No a la Mina en Caycayén. https://www.facebook.com/fueralamina/ |
Conflict & Mobilization
| Intensity | LOW (some local organising) |
| Reaction stage | PREVENTIVE resistance (precautionary phase) |
| Groups mobilizing: | Local ejos Local government/political parties Neighbours/citizens/communities Pastoralists Local scientists/professionals |
| Forms of mobilization: | Artistic and creative actions (eg guerilla theatre, murals) Creation of alternative reports/knowledge Development of a network/collective action Lawsuits, court cases, judicial activism Media based activism/alternative media Objections to the EIA Public campaigns Street protest/marches |
Impacts
| Environmental Impacts | Potential: Air pollution, Loss of landscape/aesthetic degradation, Soil contamination, Surface water pollution / Decreasing water (physico-chemical, biological) quality, Groundwater pollution or depletion, Biodiversity loss (wildlife, agro-diversity) |
| Socio-economical Impacts | Potential: Lack of work security, labour absenteeism, firings, unemployment, Loss of livelihood, Loss of traditional knowledge/practices/cultures, Loss of landscape/sense of place, Other socio-economic impacts |
| Other socio-economic impacts | Afectación de actividades productivas vinculadas a la trashumancia pastoril. |
Outcome
| Project Status | Stopped |
| Conflict outcome / response: | Institutional changes Court decision (victory for environmental justice) Strengthening of participation Application of existing regulations Project temporarily suspended |
| Proposal and development of alternatives: | Como en otros casos en Argentina, los Vecinos Autoconvocados de Chos Malal en Neuquén, recurrieron en este caso simplemente a la justicia estatal (recurso de amparo) y consiguieron parar el proyecto. La alternativa está en del desarrollo de una nueva institución desde la base (grassroots, bottom up): las asambleas auto-convocadas (self-summoned neighbours). |
| Do you consider this an environmental justice success? Was environmental justice served?: | Yes |
| Briefly explain: | Los vecinos de Chos Malal se organizaron, retomaron la experiencia de las resistencias previas nacidas en la provincia (Loncopué y Las Coloradas), y frenaron el proyecto minero por vía de un recurso de amparo. |
Sources & Materials
| Juridical relevant texts related to the conflict (laws, legislations, EIAs, etc) |
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Meta information
| Contributor: | Lucrecia Wagner, CONICET |
| Last update | 18/08/2019 |
| Conflict ID: | 3594 |
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