In answering whether Costa Rica should compensate Industrias Infinito in the Crucitas mine case, the minister in charge of the issue said, "they shouldn't be paid or it should be minimal. "
EDITORIAL
In an article in Prensalibre.cr the Minister of Environment and Energy René Castro answered the question by saying "We believe that Costa Rica should not give any compensation to Industrias Infinito because there was never actually a concession."
The money that the State of Costa Rica will lose in the dispute over the failed concession of the Crucitas mine will come from taxpayer's pockets.
Editorial
During the 20 year period of the soap opera that is Crucitas gold mine, none of the individuals who are involved in one way or another have suffered any financial loss and many, on the contrary, have seen an increase in their income and their bank accounts.
A 15-year, $127 million investment was suddenly halted by a court canceling a mining concession to Industrias Infinito in Costa Rica.
On Wednesday a court ruled that there were irregularities in the issuance of permits awarded to the Canadian mining company for exploiting a gold mine, and decided to annul the concession.
Representatives of the company, which has invested about $ 127 million in the project, reacted surprised, saying they did not understand the verdict when "the highest court (Constitutional Court) in the country endorsed the Crucitas project as environmentally, legally, constitutionally and socially viable.”
The Canadian ambassador to Costa Rica has warned of the damage to the country's international reputation if the project is cancelled.
Neil Reeder, Canadian ambassador, indicated that his government can vouch for the environmental responsibility of Canadian mining companies. Despite the project being financed by the private sector, the Canadian government maintains a close interest in the project, he added.
Taking into account the ruling of the Constitutional Court in favor of the gold mining project and the risk of a multi-million pound law suit, Chinchilla will not cancel the concession.
The Mina Crucitas operations, which are in the preparatory phase, remain suspended as a precaution pending the reversal of the Contentious-Administrative Tribunal ruling, which stopped the mine from operating in response to a complaint from an environmental organization.
An appeals court maintained a series of precautionary measures hampering the development of Crucitas gold mine, owned by Infinito Gold.
The court’s decision was based on a “in dubio pro natura” principle, which implies prevention and precaution in favor of natural resources. The measures against the company will remain in place until a final ruling is issued.