November:

“If It Were Up to Me, I’d Close Down Doe Run Peru,” translation from La República.

The Peruvian Energy and Mines Minister speaks out against Doe Run Peru in Congress.

La República newspaper, Lima, Peru - 8 November 2006

“If it were up to me, I’d close Down Doe Run Peru”

Energy and Mines Minister Juan Valdivia tells Congressmen in hearing before Congressional Committee on Energy and Mines

“If it were my decision, I would close down Doe Run’s operations tomorrow”, stated categorically the Minister. Valdivia was questioned yesterday by the legislators of the Committee on Energy and Mines at a hearing on environmental pollution in La Oroya and that city´s recent inclusion in the list of the world’s “top ten contaminated sites”.

Valdivia followed up by saying that it was not possible to close down the smelter, due to the “social problem”, as La Oroya’s population itself demanded an extension for Doe Run’s environmental commitments” (PAMA in Spanish).

It should be noted that one month ago, a group of residents publicly protested that they were being manipulated by the company to pressure the authorities who were evaluating the PAMA extension.

Valdivia admitted that Doe Run had been fined several times for non-compliance with Peruvian law. “They pay their fines, but then they file suit in court to get the money back.”