Located in Santa Filomena, Sancos District, Lucanas Province, Departament of Ayacucho Peru

Composition of the organization: at present there are 160 members, all men. There is also the group Las Aguilas, made up with 30 workers that are not members.

Type of mine: Hard rock, underground mine with veins of 30 cm
Production: Processing on average 150 metric tons monthly.
They produce approx. 4.6 kg. gold of 18 carats

Foto Ing. Eugenio Huayhua

Background
It was founded on February 5, 1989 out of need to organize for obtaining a mining concession. Previously the Miner Association did exist, but was not functioning until it was converted into a company.

Umbrella organization, association or trade union the organization is affiliated to.
They are affiliated to the Regional Association of Artisan Mining Producers of Sur Medio (AMASUC), that associates over 32 organizations.

Associates’ rights
The associated shareholders have equal rights and obligations which are established in the bylaw and in the general law on companies. 

Payment to the workers
The company has 2 groups of workers consisting of approximately 30 workers each, of which 20 are on the payroll and receive a salary payment according to the work they do. The associates work in small groups among themselves and with outsiders who are paid in mineral, which is equally divided. There are no women involved in the work, but there are women working in the administration of the company.

Families that depend directly or indirectly from the work of the organization
In Santa Filomena there is one single company and this is SOTRAMI. In the company 160 associates work as well as 30 workers who are not associates of the company and there are also about 100 no-associates that form part of the working groups as well as in supporting activities such as traders, boarding houses, transporters, which amount to around 500 families that depend directly or indirectly from the mining activity.

Pallaqueras or women miners in Santa Filomena

Benefits the organization brings to the mining communities
Both the families of associates and of others have access to electricity and water at a minimum cost as well as to transport of the mineral. Recently the population moves to a safer zone nearby. In the relocation and installation the community was partly paid by the company and partly by the inhabitants themselves

Mineral rights
The common company SOTRAMI is the owner of the mining concession.

Contract with the owner
The working groups (associates as well as no-associates) pay a royalty to the company, which in turn provides water and gives them technical advice for the mining work, sells them inputs, electricity, tools.

Taxation
The company SOTRAMI has a bookkeeping system and complies with the legal tax obligations, (on purchases, on income).

Main needs in technology and productivity

Commercialization
Each member is free to anyone that seems to offer the best deal.

Processing technology
Cyanidation is used in batch leaching.

Refining the metal
SOTRAMI sells fine gold to stripping action plants in Lima that process it.

Transport
The processing plant of the company produces activated carbon which is sent to Lima for a paid service of stripping action and refining (approximately 1.2 USD per kg of carbon). 

Main challenges faced in order to comply with the minimum requirements for the Standard Zero.

Environmental
Mills and sieves located in the middle of the town. Likewise the steaming is carried out in the shops. 

Socials
To improve the integration, understanding and commitment of the associates.

Economic

1. Improve technical instruction for the process of cyanidation by agitation.
2. Access to credit.

Labour issues
Achieve to enlist all workers on the payroll.

Commercialization
More training in commercialization

Differentiation
We have developed a formal mine. With adequate technology and taking care of the environment and a better quality of life.

Santa Filomena Town