Peru Roundup: Stimulus package, natural gas, closed ports, mummies unearthed, worst mayor
Stimulus package and long-awaited concert
A multimedia special by El Comercio shows the main highlights in Peru throughout 2024. The year’s political and economic landscape will kick off with an announcement of a new economic stimulus package aimed at boosting economic growth on January 15th. The strategy involves promoting dynamism through investments in the maintenance of public infrastructure and preventive activities, says Alex Contreras Miranda, Peru's Finance minister. Four days later, something else is set to impact the country: a long-awaited Ricky Martin concert at Peru’s biggest stadium.
Domestic needs of exported natural gas
Although there are natural gas reserves to meet demand for the next 25 years, Peru currently struggles to satisfy its domestic needs, Expreso reports. The main producer, the Camisea Gas Consortium, highlights the necessity of an expensive network of pipelines to supply natural gas nationwide, and its development is progressing slowly. Paradoxically, Peru exports this hydrocarbon with minimal added value to countries such as South Korea, Japan, the United Kingdom, and Spain, contributing significantly to foreign exchange earnings.
58 ports closed due to high waves
The National Emergency Operations Center (COEN) reported that, based on information from the General Directorate of Harbormasters, the number of closed ports along the coastline increased to 58 on January 3. This closure, reports Correo Perú, was attributed to the presence of waves ranging from light to moderate intensity. Among the 58 closed ports, 33 are in the northern region, and 25 are in the central region. No ports have been closed in the southern region as of now.
Mummies unearthed
The Independent reports that archaeologists have unearthed 73 strange mummies in Peru, some with carved masks, from different periods ranging from around AD800 to AD1100. These mummies were found in a “spectacular” state of preservation at Pachacamac, an ancient cemetery south of Lima, the country’s capital. Archaeologists are currently reconsidering the belief that Pachacamac served as a sacred city without interruption until the Spanish conquest. Recent excavations suggest that the site had a distinct layout and character during the era of the Wari empire, a political formation that emerged around 600 AD.
Peru’s worst mayor
On January 2, 2023, César Arturo Fernández Bazán arrived at the auditorium of the Municipal Theater riding on horseback to be sworn in as the mayor of the Provincial Municipality of Trujillo. On that day, he wore a replica of a presidential sash, adorned with the distinctive emblem of the Trujillo coat of arms. One year after his extravagant inauguration, Fernández Bazán is accused of conducting sexist rants, abusing power, and prioritizing celebrations –including his birthday– over Trujillo’s dire needs. Four months after his suspension and five days before a hearing to appeal this decision, Correo Perú named Fernández Bazán Peru’s worst mayor.
