Climate change: Several taxes are applicable to the Company’s mining operations in Mexico, including federal and state fossil fuel taxes, and the requirements associated with Mexico’s emission trading scheme. These taxes range from $1.2/tCO2 to $20/tCO2, approximately. These regional taxes are applicable in the States of Baja California and Zacatecas, as well as a federal tax linked to the import of fuels. In addition, an emission trading scheme (ETS) is currently available to the Company which is currently only applicable to two business units, the metallurgic and lime plants in Sonora, which both generate annual GHG emissions levels above the threshold of 100,000 tCO2e per year contemplated by the scheme. These two units are required to report and verify their emissions once a year with average costs of less than $6,000 per unit. Units that emit more than 25,000 tonnes CO2 equivalent per year (all our Mexican units) are required to report their emissions to the National Emissions Registry (RENE) every year and to verify the reported emissions every three years. As a result, the total expenses for ensure annual compliance with climate change regulations in Mexico were not material to the Company.
The Company believes that all of its facilities in Peru and Mexico are in material compliance with environmental, mining and other applicable laws and regulations. The Company also believes that continued compliance with environmental laws of Mexico and Peru will have no material adverse effects on the Company’s business, properties, or operating results.
Litigation matters:
Peruvian operations:
The Tia Maria Mining Project
There are five lawsuits filed against the Peruvian Branch of the Company related to the Tia Maria project. The lawsuits seek (i) to declare null and void the resolution that approved the Environmental Impact Assessment of the project; (ii) the cancellation of the project and the withdrawal of mining activities in the area; (iii) to annul the mining
concession application for the Tia Maria project; and (iv) to annul the resolution that approved the construction license. The lawsuits were filed by Messrs. Ernesto Mendoza Padilla (filed May 26, 2015), Juan Alberto Guillen Lopez (filed June 18, 2015), Junta de Usuarios del Valle del Tambo (filed April 30, 2015), Gobierno Regional de Arequipa (filed December 16, 2019) and Municipalidad Distrital de Dean Valdivia (filed in January 2020 but notified in August 2022).
The Mendoza Padilla case was initially rejected by the lower court on July 8, 2015. This ruling was confirmed by the Superior Court on June 14, 2016. On July 12, 2016, the case was appealed before the Constitutional Court. On November 20, 2018, the Constitutional Court reversed the previous decisions and remanded the case to the lower court for further action. In the third quarter of 2020, the Company was notified that the complaint had been reinstated. The Company answered the complaint on September 15, 2020. On December 2, 2020, the lower court issued a resolution, considering the complaint answered. On September 27, 2021, the Court ordered to temporarily archive the case. As of March 31, 2023, the case remains pending resolution.
The Guillen Lopez case is currently before the lower court. Oral arguments took place on July 19, 2019. On January 7, 2020, the Judge decided to suspend the proceeding until the del Carpio Lazo case is concluded. On March 8, 2022, SCC’s Peruvian Branch informed the Court that the del Carpio Lazo case had concluded. As of March 31, 2023, the case remains pending resolution.
The Junta de Usuarios del Valle del Tambo case is currently before the lower court. In May 2016, the Company was included in the process, after the Ministry of Energy and Mines filed a civil complaint. On March 6, 2019, the Company was formally notified of the lawsuit and answered the complaint on March 20, 2019. On July 8, 2019, the Company requested the suspension of the proceeding until the del Carpio Lazo case is concluded. On March 11, 2022, SCC’s Peruvian Branch informed the Court that the del Carpio Lazo case had concluded. As of March 31, 2023, the case remains pending resolution.
The Gobierno Regional de Arequipa case is currently before the lower court. The Company answered the complaint on September 15, 2020. On February 8, 2021, the Judge decided to suspend the proceeding until the del Carpio Lazo case was concluded. On March 24, 2022, SCC’s Peruvian Branch informed the Court that the del Carpio Lazo case had