Book Las Bambas

Twelve Years of Working Together

From the very beginning of the Las Bambas project in 2004, there was always clear direction to be followed in all work areas, with management based on principles and values that include respect for life and culture and an ongoing transparent and equal dialogue.

We are aware that our efforts to contribute to sustainable development in Cotabambas and Grau provinces go hand in hand with the preservation and revaluation of local cultural riches and archaeological heritage. Only then can we ensure their continued existence and preserve their transcendence to society.

The book that you hold in your hands represents an essential part of this effort to strengthen culture and identity. Thanks to painstaking research and oral narratives handed down from generation to generation, we present you with a rich panorama of history and local customs, the astounding landscape and

the rituals and celebrations of Cotabambas and Grau provinces.

At the same time, this book summarises the hard logistics and community engagement processes involved in the development of Las Bambas, always with respect for the local population and with a fundamental commitment to be agents of sustainable development with a long-term vision for the future.

Las Bambas, Peru is above all a fitting tribute to our neighbours in Cotabambas and Grau and to our employees and collaborators. Their efforts, their willingness and their determination have made Las Bambas a reality. This book is also a testimony to twelve years of hard work among the company, the community and the government.

The development of Las Bambas will contribute to progress in the direct area of influence of the mine, in the Apurímac Region, and in all of Peru. For our part, we reiterate our commitment to working with the highest standards in safety, environmental stewardship and sustainable development as part of a comprehensive project in a land of rich culture and traditions.

Gustavo Gomes
Las Bambas President

View caption

Introduction

The road taken to publishing this book has been long, although perhaps not as long as the path that brought us to Cotabambas in 2004, where we first arrived, after driving nine hours on a road that often allowed only one vehicle at a time to pass.

When we came to Cotabambas by way of that winding road, we were constantly surprised by the majesty and difficulty of the landscape, by the warmth and simple daily lives of the people we found here. Above all, we were continually surprised by the rich historical culture, which in many places was being forgotten - and needed to be revived.

View caption

From our first day of work in the area, while we began our mineral exploration and organised setting up the pioneer camp, we also started the process of integration with residents of Cotabambas and Grau. They greeted us with excitement, curiosity and a sense of expectation. Today, more than a decade later, our operation is underway and we are stimulating development in the region.

We have instituted an operational focus that highlights the key role of mining in sustainable development based on the values of MMG, operator in charge of Las Bambas since 2014. Our values’ core principles are based on respect for people who live in our area of influence, as well as their traditions and culture. Our principles also include a continuing desire to maintain an open and transparent dialogue. These values guide us to a future in which we achieve joint development with an unwavering respect for the essential balance that must be maintained among mining, people and nature. It is precisely this spirit that has spurred publication of Las Bambas, Peru.

View caption

The first part of the book describes the impressive landscape that welcomes us and its long and complex history. Further on, the book talks about what Las Bambas is - the values that drive it, its organisation and the logistical challenges of undertaking an engineering project of this complexity in an area defined by its altitude: in some cases, more than 4,000 or even 5,000 metres above sea level - and the difficulty of reaching these heights.

Next is a summary of the community and economic development projects led by Las Bambas in the region, looking toward a sustainable, long-term future beyond the life of the mine. Finally, we explore the living culture of the region - the dances, the music and the faith, all an expression of a people who have managed to overcome challenges of the physical environment, and who find time to celebrate with joy, excitement and colour.

In its essence, this publication is a tribute to all who have participated in the comprehensive processes undertaken by Las Bambas in Cotabambas and Grau, areas with landscapes and ancestral customs inherited through word and tradition, and a celebration of the beauty and cultural riches that live in this land at the heart of Apurímac.

View caption