The water first, the mine after: 2011

September 5, 2011

Water is guaranteed

In a brief interview, Project Conga’s manager environment, Carlomagno Bazán, pointed out that water quality and quantity was guaranteed n his area of influence.

Will Project Conga reduce water quantity on the head of the river basin?
During the Conga operation we have foreseen a positive impact on water quantity. The environmental steps proposed in the Environment Impact Study (EIA in Spanish) and approved by the National Water Authority and the Ministry of Energy and Mines includes the building of reservoirs with a capacity of up to 3.2Mm3 water for exclusive use in the farmlands in the neighboring basins. These steps will have a greater benefit than impact itself on the underground drainage network and natural water harvesting system.

What benefits will the Conga reservoirs provide?
According to historical water quantity records in the neighboring basins, during the driest months of the dry season (August -September) there is usually a maximum discharge of 20l/s approximately. However, studies state that with reservoirs said areas would be in a position to provide a total discharge of no less than 51 liters/second to neighboring basins, thus supplying a greater quantity of water even in the driest of the season. This translates into more available water for the exclusive use of the communities within the area of influence of the Conga Project.

Besides quantity, is water quality also assured?
The environmental steps to be taken concerning water quality include the building of great sediment control dams to hold sediments in the Alto Jadibamba, Alto Chirimayo and Chailhuagon Rivers basins, so that water discharge to said basins does not exceed a 50mg/liter total suspended solids (TSS) concentration. As to the steps proposed to control mine acid drainage, the Project plans to implement an acid water treatment plant to enable discharge of treated water as per applicable Environmental Quality Standards (EQS).

Promoting farm activity

In to strengthen farm activity in the Huasiyuc Jadibamba hamlet, Yanacocha’s Conga Project delivered a modern John Deere tractor with plough and tiller to the Huasiyuc- Jadibamba livestock association.

The producers in that area will be able to boost agricultural and livestock production in over two thousand hectares, thus enhancing conditions for crops, improved pasture grass and other farm activities.

More income for producers

Farmers in the area of intervention of Project Conga have notably improved production of improved native potato with technical help from the Sustainable Development Association (ADERS Perú).

Farmer’s Field Schools (ECA in Spanish) have been implemented to attain the objectives. Over one hundred small farmers take part in the program striving to enhance potato production and preserve ancestral native potato varieties.

The alliance between Project Conga, ADERS Peru and the peasants enables the opportunity of harvesting potato twice a year, thus increasing family income and providing better opportunities to place their products in the local market.

The project includes business management training to rural families so they can offer more competitive products, using new market opportunities and preserving the genetic diversity of native potato.

I won a friend for life

The student volunteer program was held from July 17 – 23 at the El Porvenir hamlet, in the district of La Encañada in Cajamarca. This program, supported by the Asociación los Andes de Cajamarca, Project Conga – Yanacocha and other institutions and projects linked to social development works toward the sustainable development of the Cajamarca region.

Interaction between students from El Porvenir primary school and Markham College and Davy College has enabled sharing summits and visions between both groups, which now keep in touch through the scheme “I won a friend for life”, which implies keeping in touch in spite of distance.

The volunteer program included: Training workshops to preserve the environment and management of solid residues, building of garbage pits on school grounds and six houses in the hamlet, improvement of latrines and waste water drainage, inside and outside painting of school facilities, alphabet implementation of school and hamlet, sanding and varnishing of doors and windows, implementation of vegetable gardens and livestock dose; all under the technical support of professionals.

Information meeting with Celendín

The 2011 XIV Agricultural, Touristic, Artisan and Folklore Fair was held in Celendin during the Virgen del Carmen festivities, where several public and private institutions had information booths and also booths offering regional products; Yanacocha’s Project Conga offered information and answered queries from the population concerning mining activities in Cajamarca and their contribution to national development.

Conga’s booth was one of the most visited and where the population was asked about their knowledge about mining and environmental topics.

September 2, 2011

Sharing with our neighbors

A new integration workshop was held in the Uñigan Pululo Hamlet in the district of Sorochuco, where workers from Project Conga and our neighbors strengthened friendship and fraternity relations. Family planning and environment care topics were broached during the workshop.
The authorities and the population supported this type of integrating activities.

July 4, 2011

Progress comes

“You can see the progress is coming”. With this phrase Diana Félix Lévano, Principal of School No. 821341 from El Lirio hamlet, Huasmín district, started the opening ceremony of the new rooms of her institution that was executed under an interinstitutional agreement between the District Municipality of Huasmín and Los Andes de Cajamarca Association (ALAC) through Mining Solidarity Fund (FMSC) and Conga Project.

The opening of 3 classrooms, auditorium, Principal’s office, library and restrooms have the massive assistance of parents, local authorities, mayor and councilmen of the District Municipality of Huasmín, representatives of Celendín Local Education Management Unit (UGECEL), representatives of the Regional Directorate of Education (DRE) and representatives of ALAC, FMSC and Conga project.

June 29, 2011

More secure

Complying with its commitment and in coordination with the authorities of Yanacolpa village, district of Sorochuco, Conga Project built the perimeter wall of School No. 821094. This work will allow students and the institution's assets to be more secure.
The project included the construction of five dry holes latrines with perimeter walls and wood cover. The total investment exceeds 180,000 Nuevos Soles.

Better classrooms, better education

Students from "José Carlos Mariátegui" Community Management School of Chugurmayo village, district of Sorochuco, have now better conditions to develop their educational activities thanks to Yanacocha through Conga Project as three classrooms were built to benefit 55 students.

Because of weather conditions in the area, classrooms have special characteristics; they are made with wooden walls and partition on concrete slab, finished with polished concrete, covered with Andean tile and ceiling with sheets of plywood.

Teachers and students expressed their gratitude for the completion of this work because it will improve the educational conditions in their village.

June 16, 2011

Responsible mining

University students part of the group “Jóvenes Impulsores Celendinos” (JIC), visited Yanacocha and Granja Porcón facilities. In both places, they received information and verified how mining, agriculture and cattle raising work together as fruit of a responsible handling for modern mining.

The tour included the environment laboratory facilities, where they verified the careful water treatment with national and international standards, which has allowed Yanacocha to be one of the pioneering responsible mining respectable companies.

Rimber Paredes - Student of Mine Engineering
“We have learnt a lot. We have a new concept of mining. Environmental standards are really complied with here. I think mining brings development to the towns. I respect responsible mining!”.

Jorge Flores – Student of Environmental Engineering
“Before I had a few doubts about the environmental care performed in Yanacocha. After this tour, I was able to confirm the adequate considerations to respect the environment and act in an ecologic way are being respected. Mining is one of the main activities in Peru. We hope the new government does not interfere in topics regarding mining, because this activity is generating a big budget for the country”.

Daniel Alva Huamán – Proffessor Universidad Alas Peruanas
“The visit has been very important for the students to understand the work Yanacocha does in their diverse stages and regarding the environment. We all know mining is an important part of the economic activity in Peru”.

Better cattle raising

As in previous years, the cattle raising development program executed by FONCREAGRO in the Conga Project influence area still produces encouraging results; on Friday, May 20 a new farm animal was born as product of the artificial insemination program. We expect the birth of other animals to be produced during the next few days, providing happiness to several families.

May 19, 2011

New Expectations

The seven students with scholarships to attend the International Enterprise Forum- FIE 2011 held in Córdova – Argentina returned exited to Cajamarca, thanks to the initiative of the Asociación Los Andes Cajamarca (ALAC) in order to strengthen their enterprising spirit and define goals that contribute to the personal development.

The group was formed by Milton Pereyra Rodríguez and Wilman García Tabaco, from the “Pedro Paula Augusto Gil” school in Celendín, Milagros Mariñas Camacho from “Antonio Guillermo Urrelo” school, Luz Janet Arribasplata Arribasplata from “Santa Teresita” school, Karen Melissa Vargas Salas, from “Parroquial Inmaculada Concepción” school and Jhennifer Bacón Saucedo from “San Vicente de Paúl” school.

Wilman García Tabaco, “Pedro Paula Augusto Gil” school
“It is wonderful to know there are guys like us with a different culture. Thanks to this experience I will be able to apply in the future better ways of sharing, helping and be better each day”

José Luís Vargas Amezaga, head of family
“I feel excited and motivated for this event that allows the kids to have a wider vision to be part of the change in the region. I also congratulate ALAC for this very good decision and I hope they continue to trust young people, since they are an important bastion in our society”.

Together for a better future

In a busy ceremony held in Celendín, the Regional Government of Cajamarca, the Celendín Provincial Municipality and Yanacocha signed a participation and commitment agreement to co-fund the Project “Construcción del centro de abastos de la provincia de Celendín - II etapa” (Construction of a supply center for the Celendín Province – II stage), valued in 9 million Nuevos Soles.

According to the agreement, the Regional Government (GR) and the Celendín Provincial Municipality (MPC) will provide 2 million Nuevos Soles each and Yanacocha, through the Solidarity Mining Fund on a regional level and the Conga Project, will contribute with 5 million Nuevos Soles. Aside from the amount mentioned, GR and MPC committed to draft and obtain the approvals required for the pre-investment and investment assessments.

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It is once again proven that when public and private institutions work together, important projects can be performed, projects to set the bases for sustainable development and allow the improvement of the quality of life for the population.

Knowing the mine

Students and professors of the Instituto Privado Celendín (IPC) visited the Yanacocha operation areas in order to solve their doubts regarding environmental and social procedures of the modern mining in Cajamarca. The tour also included a visit to the Granja Porcón facilities, where they saw the positive environmental impact generated in the area.

IPC students comment ...

Melva García Gallardo
"A very interesting visit, because it showed us the water care, the gold production process, as well as the protection Yanacocha gives to the Environment, aside from contributing to the professional development of my career"

Ayquin Vásquez
“At first there are doubts about mining and the environmental impact it may create, but upon arriving Yanacocha, all doubts were cleared at observing the water treatment with state-of-the-art-technology and the great effort deployed to change old mining and reach the community. It was not a tour, we obtained personal and professional benefit from it. I wish other people would like to come and solve their doubts”.

April 13, 2011

A new contribution for education

Conga Project representatives, along with authorities and hamlet Quengorío Alto inhabitants, participated in the ceremony of placing the first stone that marks the beginning of the construction of new rooms for Educational Institution N° 101030.

According to the technical file, the work includes three rooms designated to be used as auditorium, Computer classroom and Principal office respectively, with their own toilets. These are necessary significant infrastructures that will make students and teachers perform their functions in better conditions.

Hamlet Quengorío Alto authorities expressed their satisfaction for the beginning ofsuch significant work.

In this way, Yanacocha Conga Project works together with the neighboring hamlets, contributing in the fulfillment of projects in key places for sustainable development.

Opportunity for ranching development

Through its Conga Project, Yanacocha, along with FONCREAGRO and AGRORURAL inaugurated in the Santa Rosa hamlet, Huasmín district, Celendín province, the first 5 out of the 44 sheds for cattle proposed in the agreement and that are in process. The breeding of cattle in sheds is a technique that allows junior ranchers to protect cattle from weather negative effects, achieving an improvement in the production with a correct management of cattle.

Emilio Medina Chacón, Project beneficiary, thanked the support from participant institutions and manifested that opening the doors to Conga neighbors is a good opportunity to generate development, always with dialogue and proposals.

Walter Pesantes, AGRORURAL Head of zone, said that since they belong to the State, they will continue promoting strategic allies to boost projects in benefit of the inhabitants who are prepared to commit in improving cattle, which results in improvements of their economy.

This Project is one more of the 4 joint initiatives that Conga is working with MINAG (Ministry of Agriculture) for communal developments such as: forestation, water technical management, soil conservation and agro industrialization. These developments show supportive and arranged work to make sustainable developments programs and projects that improve the quality of life in the hamlets within Project Conga area of influence progress.

March 7, 2011

"Alliance for the development against poverty"

On Wednesday the 9^th of February a workshop took place with members of the “Alliance for Development and Poverty” in Celendin. This workshop had the participation of authorities and CODECOS from the communities of Coñicorgue, Shanipata, Santa Rosa, Jerez, La Victoria Alto Huangashanga, Curapampa, Huangashanga, San Juan de Huangashanga, Primavera, Pring, Yanaquero and Florida

The purpose of this meeting was to confirm the commitment of the alliance with the CODECOS and the authorities to continue with the work to achieve the development of the communities

Through briefing sessions, dialogue and reflection it was possible to explain the wish of making this project real by working in teams to be able to achieve common goals.

The Neighbourhood Community or the Committees of Community Development (CODECOS) are the major organizations which seek to improve the capacity to formulate, implement and manage plans and community development projects with the participation of its citizens and both public and private institutions.

February 14, 2011

A new life

Pura, a thirty-eight years old woman who has five children, was sufferering from headaches and could not stop coughing because of the state of her kitchen. The solution? Building an improved stove.

Thanks to the contribution of our partners in the project "Families in Solidarity, building improved stoves" the inhabitants of the hamlet Lagunas de Combayo are starting a healthier life.

Pura belongs to only one of the seventeen families who have been benefit by receiving improve stoves on Wednesday 26^th. Today, after receiving her new kitchen, her discomfort is disappearing.

"Before I used to cook in a small hut where I could not see anything, I kept coughing and my food was full of ashes, but now my kitchen has new lighting, and the most import thing is that there is no smoke so my children can be there with me, " says the owner of the house while blowing the wood off and carrying her youngest child.

January 27, 2011

More reading, better education

The world of reading

PBecause we believe that by promoting reading we will strength the reading skills, and also because at the moment we do not have many areas open so that children and adolescents from Sorochuco and Huasmín could have access to quality books. We have also launched mini libraries in our information offices in response to the need for children and young people of school age who need reading areas to strengthen their education and academic preparation.

These mini-libraries will be open the12 months of the year, allowing students to come during their holiday period. In "The World of Reading", they will find updated information, and texts that are suitable to their education levels, such as primary, secondary and higher education.

The Local Education Management Unit from province of Celendín is backing up this project.

And the authorities say…

“As a son of Sorochuco I feel very proud to encourage culture and knowledge for the youth, it has been a difficult pathway to achieve this, I am sure that in the future there will be more work for the community for Sorochuco, it is great to have an open and direct dialogue with the project, all together we will find the best way to continue the development of Sorochuco.” LUIS CASTAÑEDA PISCO – Public Safety Coordinator from Sorochuco.

January 11, 2011

Christmas in Conga

The employers `spouses of the Conga Project visited 32 hamlets of the territory in these festivities. They shared gifts and surprises with children of the educative institutions in a traditional Christmas event known as “Chocolatada” ..

Thus, with this type of activities we try to involve the families of our workmates to improve the relations with our neighbors. Not only in Christmas also in future campaigns in which we will ask for the active participation of the hamlets settlers, authorities, contributors and relatives.

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Conga Project - Phone number: (51) (76) 555005 - E-mail: proyecto.conga@newmont.com - © 2010

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