Artisanal gold miners hold key to Peru election outcome
The upcoming presidential runoff between Keiko Fujimori and Roberto Sanchez may depend on the support of 500,000 informal gold miners. Both candidates are courting the sector as the REINFO regulatory program faces a year-end expiration amid concerns over environmental damage and illegal financing.
Peru presidential candidates are courting small-scale gold miners ahead of a Sunday runoff that could determine the future of mining regulations. The informal sector is expected to produce $11B in gold exports in 2025, representing roughly 50% of the national total. This voting bloc of 500,000 miners holds the balance of power in a race where polling shows a narrow lead for conservative Keiko Fujimori over leftist Roberto Sanchez.
### The Political Weight of Informal Mining The election centers on the REINFO program, a regulatory framework allowing small miners to operate without full environmental permits. Originally set to expire in 2020, the program has seen multiple extensions as global metal prices climbed. Neither candidate has moved to dismantle the system, which now serves as a critical economic pillar for rural regions.
