(Adds Southern Copper statement confirming fire) By Marcelo Rochabrun LIMA, June 1 (Reuters) - Southern Copper Corp saidthat a fire broke out at its Los Chancas mining project onTuesday evening, at around the same time as another fire startedat MMG Ltd's Las Bambas copper mine, sources said,amid intensified protests against mines in recent months. Communities in Peru, the world's No. 2 copper producer, aredemanding higher benefits from the industry and prices for thered metal remain high.
The situation is especially challenging for MMG and SouthernCopper.
Las Bambas is one of the world's largest copper mines, andoperations have been halted since April 20 by protesting membersof the indigenous Huancuire community that has settled insidecompany property.
Southern Copper suspended operations earlier this year forover 50 days at its Cuajone mine, as neighboring residentsdemanded a share of company profits, shutting the mine's watersupply in protest.
The government of leftist President Pedro Castillo hasstruggled to appease protesters since taking office last July.Castillo was elected with massive support in mining regions amidpledges to better redistribute mining profits.
In a statement on Wednesday, Southern Copper confirmed thefire at Los Chancas, a $2.6 billion project that has yet to bebuilt.
The company and a government source said the fire was causedin part by artisanal miners who have already been extractingcopper in the area and who oppose construction of the new mine.
The company added that no people had been harmed in thefire.
The fire at Las Bambas was confirmed by a source close tothe company.
Huancuire and Las Bambas said injuries had been sustainedduring a clash on Tuesday with police.
Alexander Anglas, a lawyer for the Huancuire community, saidit had not caused the fire but remained inside company propertyfollowing a clash with police.
In a statement, Las Bambas said Huancuire members had"caused damages to goods and other infrastructure" after minepersonnel, escorted by police, sought to enter the settlementarea. (Reporting by Marcelo Rochabrun; Editing by Jonathan Oatis andGrant McCool)
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