Peru's Government Pressured by Opposition To Extractive Industries That Fuel Economy

摘要

Peru's new president, Ollanta Humala, faces a series of environmental challenges that could aggravate social tensions and slow this Andean country's strong economic expansion. Humala, who took office July 28, inherited from the previous administration 217 officially identified social conflicts, more than half of which involve environmental disputes between communities and extractive industries, primarily mining and oil and gas companies. These two sectors represented nearly 70 percent of Peru's $35 billion in exports in 2010, and investment over the coming five years is estimated at more than $50 billion, with $42.5 billion in 44 mining projects. Extractive industries have been the motor behind Peru's economic expansion, with gross domestic product growth averaging 7 percent annually over the past five years.