Chinese mining company MMG has suspended its La Bambas copper mine in Brazil due to an ongoing community blockade of roads leading to the project.

MMG said that "disproportionate demands" from the community and "the actions of external agents" have led to the impossibility of reaching agreements.

Production will end in mid-December due to a lack of key resources, MMG said. The mine has approximately 50,000 tonnes of copper concentrate. The blockades are happening in the Chumbivilcas province, 200 kilometres from La Bambas.

The mine produced 278,000 tonnes of copper in November, while December production levels are "highly uncertain."

The blockades began in October, and were re-established in November, MMG said. The Peruvian government and community representatives held a meeting on November 30, but reached no agreement on removing the blockade, MMG said.

MMG estimates that it has lost 400 days of production since it began transporting copper concentrate in early 2016.

The company warned that the ongoing community blockade was costing Peru in terms of potential future investment and contributions to regional economies in the country.