The LatinNews Podcast is a fortnightly deep dive into key developments from across Latin America and the Caribbean.
Real insights from the region’s sharpest minds.
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Season 1 | Episode 54
The biggest threat to Peru's efforts to further tap into its vast copper ore reserves is the growing number of informal and illegal mining activities. Conflicts between property owners and concession holders have become a critical issue, and the Peruvian government is striving to find a balance. Peru's rich copper and gold ore reserves have attracted hundreds of thousands of small-scale miners, most of whom operate in areas where they do not own mining rights. It is estimated that 40 per cent of Peru's gold exports come from informal mines.
Many use a temporary registration process called REINFO, which allows them to operate while going through the formal process. The program is set to expire at the end of 2025, but the industry generally opposes it, arguing that these licenses serve as a cover for illegal activities.
On The LatinNews Podcast this week, we discuss the complexities shrouding Peru's mining industry and what the government is and isn't doing to correct it with special guest Dr John Crabtree, research associate at the Latin American Centre at the University of Oxford, associate of the Politics Department at Brookes University in Oxford, and region head for Latin America at Oxford Analytica Ltd.
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In this episode we discuss:
• Gold Rush & Informality: Peru’s Mining Dilemma
• REINFO: A Legal Loophole for Illegality
• Pataz Killings & the Criminal Mining Underworld
• Weak State, Strong Interests: Why Reform Keeps Failing
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Dr. John Crabtree
Dr. John Crabtree is a distinguished political analyst and scholar specializing in the Andean region, with a particular focus on Peru and Bolivia. He serves as a Research Associate at the Latin American Centre, University of Oxford, and is a senior member of St Antony’s College. Additionally, he is an associate of the Politics Department at Oxford Brookes University and holds the position of Region Head for Latin America at Oxford Analytica.
Dr. Crabtree's academic journey includes an MA from the University of Liverpool and a PhD from Oxford Brookes University. His extensive research and publications delve into the political dynamics of the Andean countries, exploring themes such as elite power structures, state-business relations, and the challenges of democratic governance. Notable works include Peru: Elite Power and Political Capture and Business Power and the State in the Central Andes: Bolivia, Ecuador, and Peru in Comparison.
Beyond academia, Dr. Crabtree has contributed to policy analysis and consultancy, offering insights into Latin American politics through various platforms. His expertise is sought after in both scholarly and policy-making circles, making him a leading voice in the study of Latin American political affairs.
The LatinNews Podcast is hosted by Richard McColl, a foreign correspondent in Colombia. Having first travelled to Colombia in the late 90s, McColl made the move to Bogotá in 2007. He holds a Diploma in Conflict resolution and a PhD in Social and Human Sciences both at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá. He has worked as a journalist across Latin America.
Political Analyst, Richard McColl