Peru Executive presents Mape Law to Congress

The Peruvian Executive branch has submitted the Small-Scale and Artisanal Mining Law (Ley Mape) to the Chamber of Deputies. Proposed by the Ministry of Energy and Mines, the bill aims to establish a permanent legal framework to replace current temporary mechanisms and address regulatory fragmentation in the sector.

The proposal dictates that the current Integral Mining Formalization Registry (Reinfo) will conclude on December 31, 2026. Starting January 1, 2027, a temporary “consolidation regime” will be implemented through December 31, 2028, specifically for those currently registered in Reinfo. This regime is intended to facilitate formalization and productive development.

Key components of the bill include the creation of the National Agency for the Strengthening of Small-Scale and Artisanal Mining (Formape), which would oversee authorizations, environmental evaluations, and supervision. The legislation also introduces traceability systems for processing plants and authorizes the Banco de la Nación to open accounts for formalized miners.

Some specialists have raised concerns that the proposed consolidation regime might act as a “disguised” extension of the existing Reinfo process rather than solving underlying issues. Data indicates there are currently 31,574 registrations, with 8,859 suspended, and approximately 92.8% of those in exploitation lack mining rights.