Jorge Montero is appointed Minister of Mines and Energy by Peru

According to a resolution of the government published on Sunday after his predecessor had been removed by the congress, Peru has appointed Jorge Montero its new Minister of Mines and Energy.

The former minister Romulo Manyo was removed from office on Tuesday, as protesters from small scale miners camped in front of the Peruvian parliament's building at Lima and periodically halted the traffic throughout the South.

Small-scale miners in Peru - of which many do not have the proper permits to operate - are demanding that a program allowing them to temporarily operate be extended by two years.

Authorities claim that the program meant to regulate artisanal mining has led to an increase in illegal mining. In Congress, legislators have argued that Mucho showed a lack interest or ability to resolve the issue.

The resolution that named Montero appeared on Sunday, but was also dated as Saturday, November 30.

Montero, who according to his LinkedIn page served as Peru’s vice minister of mining from November 2020 until August 2021, is returning to the ministry. Reporting by Oliver Griffin Editing and formatting by Margueritachoy

(source: Reuters)