In one week seven projects were suspended and ten others could also suffer the same fate, while 611 license applications are under review.
Ten projects located in Santa Rosa, Quiché, San Marcos, Quetzaltenango, Huehuetenango, Totonicapan and Baja Verapaz are facing law suits for different reasons, from alleged violations of the human right to water to a breach of opposition administrative formalities.
The Mining Exploitation Project Niquegua Montufar II, run by Compañía Guatemalteca de Níquel, and the one called Tajmulco II, by Montana Exploradora de Guatemala, have been suspended by the government.
A statement issued by the Ministry of Energy and Mines indicates that "...Adhering to the appeal granted by the First Chamber of the Court of Appeals of the Civil and Commercial Branch constituted in the Court of Appeal, the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM), notified Compañía Guatemalteca de Níquel (CGN), of the suspension of its authorization license for operating the mining exploitation project Niquegua Montufar II. "
A bill proposes a five year suspension of the emission of licenses for prospecting, exploration and exploitation of metallic minerals and hydroelectric licenses.
From a statement issued by the Congress of Guatemala:
Congressmen from the Convergence block presented to the Legislative Department a legal bill for a Moratorium on Mining and Hydropower, which proposes suspending for five years the issuance of licenses for prospecting, exploration and exploitation of metallic minerals and hydroelectric licenses, for the purpose discussing a new national policy for the two issues during this timeframe.
The deputies say that the postponement would allow for the analysis of this tool, which includes the participation of the population through binding referendums, which could prevent social unrest in the interior of the country where there has been the greatest resistance.
Businessmen have expressed concern about the serious consequences for the country that could arise from recent court decisions ordering the suspension of mining and hydroelectric projects.
From a statement issued by the Coordinating Committee of Agricultural, Commercial, Industrial and Financial Committee (CACIF):
CERTAINTY FOR LEGAL INVESTMENT IS AN INDISPENSABLE CONDITION OF THE RULE OF LAW
On August 16 and 17 industry representatives from around the globe will be taking part in business conferences and lectures on the role of mineral resources and the impact of the activity on the economy.
The II International Mining Congress is being organized by the Mining Chamber of Nicaragua and will be held on August 16 and 17 in Managua.
The conference will include business conferences, panels and lectures on the economic and social impact of mining on communities; the role of metallic and non-metallic mineral resources in developing countries and environmental challenges in modern mining.
In Guatemala academics are trying to halt the mining industry while new rules for the sector are studied, instead of making concrete proposals to correct what needs to be corrected.
EDITORIAL
An academic consortium is proposing that the State of Guatemala turn its back on an industry that generates employment and income and suspend the granting of mining concessions in the country.
The Supreme Court has ruled in favor of an injunction against the operation in Progresso VII, Derivada, but the legal criteria of the Ministry of Energy and Mines is that the project can continue to operate.
The Supreme Court of Guatemala had granted a provisional injunction against the environmental organization (Legal, Social and Environmental Action Center (Calas) in order to suspend the license for the mining project Progreso VII, Derivada, located in San Pedro Ayampuc and San José del Golfo.
The Supreme Court has temporarily suspended the extraction of gold and silver on the Tambor mine in response to an appeal lodged on behalf of indigenous peoples.
The mine in question is Progreso VII Derivadas, owned by Exploraciones Mineras de Guatemala, S. A., Exmingua in La Puya, department of Guatemala and it is dedicated to the exploitation of gold and silver.
The new Morales administration is opposed to the possibility of implementing a mining moratorium and promises to accelerate the review of license applications which are awaiting approval.
Arguing that the need to create jobs and economic development in areas outside of the capital, Morales administration officials announced that they will not implement a moratorium on exploration and mining in the country.
The new federation is made up of chambers and associations, and suppliers of goods, services and consultancy services in countries in the region and the Dominican Republic.
From a statement issued by the Chamber of Mining in Nicaragua:
Representatives from the organizations that make up the Mining Federation of Central American and the Caribbean (FMCC), elected Mr. Sergio Rios, as president of the Mining Chamber of Nicaragua.
The controversial taxes on the distribution of cement and mining royalties fell from $0.65 to $0.19 and from 10% to 1%, respectively.
With the publication of the new values in the official newspaper La Gaceta, an end has been put to the doubts that arose in companies over the fact that it was not clear what were the correct amounts for each tax, after the Constitutional Court declared that the mechanism by which initially the new taxes were set was unconstitutional.
The Constitutional Court cited damages to the environment and illegality in the process of granting the concession of the Sechol mine in Alta Verapaz, owned by Mayaniquel SA.
From an article on Dca.gob.gt:
The Constitutional Court (CC) ruled in favor of the Environmental and Social Legal Action Center in Guatemala (CALAS) and ordered Mayaníquel SA to suspend the Sechol mining project, between the towns of Senahú and Panzós, Alta Verapaz.
In the nineties a village in Costa Rica was populated by dreams of a promising future driven by the exploitation of a gold mine. Today there are only 27 inhabitants, left without hope.
EDITORIAL
An article on Nacion.com reports on the ups and downs of the gold mine project in Crucitas, in Costa Rica, which eventually fell through because environmental forces prevailed over sustainable development, leaving a long series of damages to the country in terms of confidence in the security of investments, tax losses, and mainly in the hopes of human beings who believed in and supported the mine being a catalyst for progress in the area. As usually happens, the only winners were the lawyers who litigated and continue litigating for both sides.
On November 12nd and 13th Panama City Latin American mining companies will be gathering together in Panama City to address the challenges and opportunities for the industry in Central America.
The Mining Chamber of Panama is organizing the event, in conjunction with the Latin American Mining Organization (Olami), called the First International Mining Congress, which will focus on the challenges and opportunities of mining activities in Central America.
A report from the Central Institute for Fiscal Studies said that mining activities in Guatemala are "far from presenting satisfactory levels of transparency."
From a report issued by the Central Institute for Fiscal Studies:
Fiscal transparency is a key element to ensure that tax revenues from the extractive industries translate into improvements in the quality of life of the population.