Lima, October 7 (teleSUR-RHC)-- The government of Peru announced on Tuesday that it has reached an agreement on changes to the controversial Las Bambas mining project after meeting with mayors whose constituents have raised concerns over its environmental impacts.

Those constituents, however, are singing a different tune, saying they won’t talk with the government about any proposed changes until after it cancels the state of emergency declared last month.

The Peruvian government sees the project as essential to economic growth. Owned by a consortium led by the Chinese government, Las Bambas project is expected to start next year and produce 400,000 metric tons of copper by 2017.

Peru is the world’s third largest producer of copper and mining accounts for the majority of its exports. The government claims Las Bambas project alone will increase its annual gross domestic product by 1.4 percent.

Residents in the areas affected by the project, however, have been protesting the government’s attempt to expand the project beyond what they say was initially promised. Local farmers, in particular, are concerned the project will pollute their land – concerns that have boiled over into often violent protests.

Protests in support of farmers have since expanded to the adjacent region of Abancay.