Peru probes China's COSCO Shipping Ports after construction site landslide

COSCO SHIPPING Ports

18/05/2023 01:20

LIMA, May 17 (Reuters) - The Peruvian prosecutor's
office said on Wednesday it has launched an investigation into
China's COSCO Shipping Ports Ltd  1199.HK  after a landslide at
one of the company's tunnel construction sites at a major port
project in the country.
    The incident, which took place Tuesday morning in the
coastal province of Huaral, damaged at least four houses near
the tunnel and forced the company to suspend construction.
    The prosecutor's office said on its Twitter account that it
has started a preliminary investigation into individuals at the
company that it said may bear responsibility.
    COSCO Shipping Ports did not immediately respond to a
Reuters request for comment.
    As part of the project, COSCO is building a 1.1 mile (1.8
km) tunnel under a residential neighborhood in the city of
Chancay to connect the port with a highway. The $1.3 billion
project's first stage is set to be completed by the end of next
year.
    The prosecutor's office also said it has asked the company
to report on works it has been carrying out "under the penalty
of being denounced for disobedience to authority."
    The port is envisioned as a hub for Peru's Pacific coast to
facilitate more trade with Asia.

 (Reporting by Marco Aquino; Writing by Carolina Pulice; Editing
by Christopher Cushing)
 ((mailto:carolina.pulice@thomsonreuters.com;))