China-backed miner MMG Ltd has placed its vast Las Bambas copper mine in Peru, the world’s second largest producing nation of the metal, in care and maintenance due to ongoing community unrest triggered by the destitution of President Pedro Castillo late last year. Nationwide protests continued on Wednesday, in the eighth week of the South American country’s political crisis, local news outlets reported. The wave of at times very violent demonstrations has already imperilled 30% of its copper output. According to Peru’s ombudsman’s office 58 people have been killed and 1,792 injured in protests since December 7, when ... (full story)