Illicit Gold Supply Chains in Peru

Illicit Gold Supply Chains in Peru

PROJECT NUMBER: 78 | AUTHOR: Alejandro Garcia​, Petroleum Engineering

MENTOR: Nicole Smith, Mining Engineering

ABSTRACT

Peru’s illicit gold supply chains are becoming a growing issue, yet there are no organized transactional records of these supply chains. This research will contribute to a better understanding of illicit gold supply chains and the ability to disrupt them through an examination of the various networks within and outside of Peru that compromise and facilitate the illicit gold supply chain. A systems dynamics model was built to capture the structure of the gold supply chain, formalize the connections among the system’s components, and highlight the feedback loops within the system. An investigation was made into Bolivia’s involvement and contribution to Peru’s illicit gold supply chains, as well as Bolivia’s own illicit gold supply chain. The findings of this research show Bolivia plays a major role in the support of Peru’s illicit gold supply chain through quantitative and qualitative data, which can be used to further develop the systems dynamics model.

PRESENTATION

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY

Alejandro Garcia is a sophomore in Petroleum Engineering with a Petroleum Data Analytics minor. Alejandro has been primarily researching Bolivia’s involvement and contribution to Peru’s illicit gold supply chains. Alejandro hopes to apply his research to the industry and potentially apply his knowledge of research to graduate school.