On Wednesday, Peruvian National Industrial Society president
Luis Salazar told
reporters that the collapse in global oil prices we lead to a large growth in
Peruvian industrial output this year. He told El Peruano, “There is no doubt
this circumstantial factor will favor our industry. However, in respect of
energy consumption, these benefits will be present to a greater or a lesser degree
depending on the output level.” He added that the economic recovery in the
United States could also boost the performance of Peruvian exports, as the
United States is one of the main destinations for those goods.
In unrelated news, the problem of illegal gold mining in
Peru was featured on NPR’s
All Things Considered. Specifically, the report centered on the research
done by Bill Pan and his colleagues on Duke University, regarding mercury
toxicity and artisanal mining. These researchers showed that unsafe levels of
mercury toxicity caused by gold mining boats and open-pit mines exist not just
in the mines’ immediate surroundings but also far, far downriver. “There's definitely a strong correlation
between where the mining is occurring and where people are at risk for mercury
toxicity," Pan said. "And that risk remains elevated for hundreds of
miles.” Pan recognized the efforts of the Peruvian government to combat the
illegal mining activities, but given the high price of gold, Pan does not
expect the situation to change any time soon.
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