La Oroya smelter ruling (Peru)
- In March 2024 the Inter-American Court of Human Rights held the Peruvian state responsible for that pollution and for the lack of oversight. Mongabay Latam
- The record does not name which of my species, waters, soils or forests were harmed.
- Courts Inter-American Court of Human Rights: Held the Peruvian state responsible for the pollution and for the lack of oversight, and not Renco (March 2024). Mongabay Latam
- Company or project Renco: Brought an arbitration claim of at least US$800 million against Peru under the US–Peru trade agreement; the claim was dismissed for lack of jurisdiction. Ministry of Economy and Finance of Peru (MEF)
- Government and regulators Peru, Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF): Published the tribunal's ruling in its favour in the La Oroya arbitration. Ministry of Economy and Finance of Peru (MEF)
In March 2024 the Inter-American Court of Human Rights held the Peruvian state responsible for pollution from the La Oroya metallurgical complex and for a lack of oversight. A separate arbitration claim of at least US$800 million by Renco against Peru was dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.
Claimed amount as reported by Peru's Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF).
Status As of March 2024: the Inter-American Court of Human Rights held the Peruvian state responsible for the La Oroya pollution; no payment by Renco in Peru found in the sources reviewed.
- Peruvian state — Held responsible by the Inter-American Court for the pollution and the lack of oversight. Mongabay Latam
What happened
The case concerns lead pollution from the La Oroya metallurgical complex in Peru. the sources reviewed's case summary covers the period 1997 to 2024, names Doe Run Peru, a Renco company, as the operator, and lists an extended PAMA, with the same company continuing under the deadlines granted.
In March 2024 the Inter-American Court of Human Rights held the Peruvian state responsible for the pollution from the complex and for the lack of oversight, according to Mongabay Latam. The ruling assigned responsibility to the Peruvian state rather than to Renco. A summary of the ruling based on AIDA states that the court found the state had known of the problem for decades.
In a separate proceeding under the US–Peru trade agreement, Renco brought an arbitration claim of at least US$800 million against Peru. An international tribunal dismissed it for lack of jurisdiction; the MEF published the outcome under the headline “International tribunal rules in favor of Peru in La Oroya arbitration” (source dated July 2016). the sources reviewed give no payment by Renco in Peru.
- 2016Tribunal dismisses Renco's arbitration claim of at least US$800 million against Peru for lack of jurisdiction (MEF, July 2016)
- 2024March: Inter-American Court of Human Rights holds the Peruvian state responsible for pollution from the La Oroya complex and for the lack of oversight
What was said
Where accounts differ
Each party's account, side by side, with its source. The record does not settle these points; it shows them.
Held the Peruvian state responsible for the pollution and for the lack of oversight, and not Renco (March 2024).
Mongabay LatamBrought an arbitration claim of at least US$800 million against Peru under the US–Peru trade agreement; the claim was dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.
Ministry of Economy and Finance of Peru (MEF)Published the tribunal's ruling in its favour in the La Oroya arbitration.
Ministry of Economy and Finance of Peru (MEF)How it looked
Shown
Recorded
- The Inter-American Court of Human Rights held the Peruvian state responsible for pollution from the La Oroya metallurgical complex and for the lack of oversight (March 2024).
- The court found that the state had known of the problem for decades (AIDA).
- Renco's arbitration claim of at least US$800 million against Peru under the US–Peru trade agreement was dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.
Who gained
Reached nature or the ground
Gained elsewhere
Responses on record
- Peru, Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) (2016-07): Published the arbitration outcome under the headline “International tribunal rules in favor of Peru in La Oroya arbitration.” · Ministry of Economy and Finance of Peru (MEF)
In court and with insurers
Lawsuits and rulings
- 2024-03Claimant wonLa Oroya case: Inter-American Court of Human Rights (2024)Inter-American Court of Human Rights · International court · → Peruvian state
The court held the Peruvian state responsible for pollution from the La Oroya metallurgical complex and for the lack of oversight. A summary based on AIDA states the court found the state had known of the problem for decades. Claimants are not named in the sources reviewed. Mongabay Latam
- 2016-07Dismissed$800m At least US$800 million claimed (US$ million)Renco v. Peru: arbitration under the US–Peru trade agreementInternational arbitral tribunal (US–Peru trade agreement) · Arbitration · Renco → Peru
The tribunal dismissed Renco's claim of at least US$800 million for lack of jurisdiction. Ministry of Economy and Finance of Peru (MEF)
Insurers
What we don't know
Nature
- Disputed Who is responsible for the pollution from the La Oroya complex?
Record
- None on record the sources reviewed give no payment by Renco in Peru.
Did the harm stop?
Who paid?
The Inter-American Court assigned responsibility to the Peruvian state; the sources reviewed give no payment by Renco in Peru.
Sources
Government and regulators
- International tribunal rules in favor of Peru in La Oroya arbitrationMinistry of Economy and Finance of Peru (MEF) · 2016-07
Press and investigations
- Corte internacional condena a Perú por contaminación ambiental en La OroyaMongabay Latam · 2024-03
Communities and civil society
Connected cases
- Doe Run agreed to spend 65 million dollars to fix Herculaneum air and water violations United States · 2010
- Renco (Company) — here: Parent of Doe Run Peru; claimant in the arbitration against Peru; there: owner of Doe Run