Espinar’s HDI values have increased remarkably, climbing from 0.2 in 2003 to 0.46 in 2019, which makes it the third province with the highest HDI in Cusco, ranking behind Canchis (0.4682) and Urubamba (0.5380), according to Artemio Pérez Pereyra, senior manager of social management and institutional affairs at Antapaccay mining company.

At Rumbo a PERUMIN – Central Peru Edition, he mentioned that the increase in Espinar’s HDI values is the result of efforts made by multiple actors, among which is Antapaccay, a company that has signed a framework agreement with several communities and that currently contributes to the development of the region through Public Works for Taxes.

“In Cusco, Espinar is ranked above ten provinces where mining does not have a strong presence. For example, Canas’s, Paruro’s and Chumbivilcas’s HDI values were 0.25, 0.24, and 0.33, respectively,” he explained during the conference “New contribution of the framework agreement and of Public Works for Taxes to Espinar.”

It is important to note that the HDI is an indicator measured by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) that is expressed as a value between 0 and 1, 1 being the indicator of the highest development. In 2019, Peru’s HDI value was 0.777.

 Investing millions in social projects

In 2003, Antapaccay signed a framework agreement with Espinar’s province municipality, district municipality and civil society. This agreement, currently in force, sets forth an annual contribution of up to 3% of its pretax income to finance social investment projects.

“Since we signed the framework agreement, PEN 479 million have been granted to conduct 1,121 projects. Last week, we delivered PEN 59 million, a record amount never paid by the company before,” said Pérez.

The investment will allow expanding the Internet service, improving learning with ICTs for students and teachers of educational institutions in all 8 districts of Espinar, and optimizing agricultural production by way of mechanization.

Regarding the Public Works for Taxes mechanism, the executive said that the mining company is seeking to reinvest in Espinar part of wealth generated there in projects involving education, health, water and sanitation, agriculture, and roads and sidewalks, among others.

“Under this mechanism, Antapaccay has directly invested PEN 33.1 million in projects to build the municipal slaughterhouse. For 2022-2023, there is a portfolio of projects that total PEN 226 million, which includes 2 water projects and 4 infrastructure improvement projects,” he revealed.