Protesters block access to Mexican mine owned by Goldcorp

Protesters in northern Mexico said they have blocked access to the Peñasquito mining complex operated by Goldcorp, threatening to interrupt production at the country's biggest gold deposit.

The protesters, which include landowners and truck drivers, began their blockade on Monday and are demanding payment for environmental damages, jobs, and water for their communities, Felipe Pinedo, one of the protest leaders, said on Wednesday.

In late August, Reuters reported on a long-running leak of contaminated water which had not been disclosed to the public.

A source close to the company told Reuters that the blockade was illegal and risked interrupting production at the mine, which was operating below capacity.

"If the blockade is not lifted immediately, the company will not have material by Saturday," he said.

Last year the Peñasquito mine produced 860.300 ounces of gold, a quarter of Goldcorp´s total production.