On Thursday, Newmont Goldcorp was ready to restart negotiations as soon as what it called an “illegal blockade” was lifted at Mexico’s Peñasquito gold mine , the world’s top gold producer said.
“A small group of people insist on the illegal blockade by way of pressure, and will try to secure millions of dollars in personal financial gain ,” the company said in a statement, adding it had accepted previous negotiating terms.
Operations at the open-pit mine in northern Zacatecas state, which produced 272,000 ounces of gold last year, have been intermittent since March after protesters staged blockades to urge compensation for damage to local water supplies.
After Zacatecas governor Alejandro Tello went to Peñasquito mine to negotiate its opening, settlers of the entity pointed out that the alleged lifting of the blockade was staged , for CAVA carriers had no intention of liberating the mine.
They said that those maintaining the blockade are sent by senator José Narro Céspedes through his counselor Felipe Pinedo Hernández , as well as José Ascención Carrillo Vázquez and Rigoberto Robles .
“They made the governor believe they would lift the blockade in the mine, but it was false, they had already planned to maintain it and everything was a simulation ,” they said.
They also mentioned that behind the blockade are interests of the owner of CAVA , José Ascención Carrillo Vázquez , for he does not want the mining company Newmont Goldcorp to hire private carriers.
The blockade in Peñasquito mine took place despite the agreement to keep the mine open while negotiation tables were carried between the settlers of Mazapil, representatives of the mine, and authorities from the Interior Ministry (SEGOB).
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