Nueva Fuerabamba built for 1,600 residents near Las Bambas mine

In the Apurímac region of southern Peru, the town of Nueva Fuerabamba was constructed to facilitate the development of the Las Bambas copper mining project. The resettlement was necessitated because the Ferrobamba ore deposit is located on lands belonging to the local Fuerabamba community.

Construction of the new settlement, located in the Challhuahuacho district of Cotabambas, took place between 2010 and 2014. The project included 441 houses across seven different models, along with integrated infrastructure such as health facilities, educational centers, markets, churches, elderly care facilities, and utilities including water, electricity, and sewage.

The resettlement process involved approximately 507 families, totaling roughly 1,600 people. Compensation packages included housing, land, public infrastructure, and various socio-economic programs.

Despite the infrastructure development, disputes persist. Reports from investigative media outlet OjoPublico indicate that some members of the Fuerabamba community have returned to their original lands, claiming that commitments made during the resettlement process were not fully met. The mining company maintains that most contractual obligations have been fulfilled.