The amendments to the law stipulate that prior to the request for exploitation, the mining authority shall require the municipal corporation to conduct a citizen consultation within a period not exceeding 90 days, and the decision adopted shall be binding for the granting of the concession.
If the result of the citizens' consultation is to oppose the exploitation, it cannot be carried out again after one year, prior to the installation of a social development table, the approved text specifies.
Gold, silver, lead and zinc were some of the main materials exported during 2017, and the main buyers were the USA, Germany, Aruba, Austria and Belgium.
The authorities at the Honduran Institute of Geology and Mines (Inhgeomin) presented figures for 2017 and explained that the good performance achieved last year was mainly due to favourable international prices and to the reactivation in economies such as the United States, which led to an increase in demand for metals and minerals, especially for construction.
In the first quarter of the year, exports from the mining sector totaled $39 million, an increase of 23% compared to the same period in 2016.
From a report by the Central Bank of Honduras:
The products classified in the mining activity accounted for an exported value of US $39.0 million, US $7.4 million (23.3%) more than in relation to March 2016; brought about by an improvement in the price of minerals in the international market, which has encouraged the largest shipments.
In 2015 Honduras and Guatemala exported ores such as zinc, nickel and other precious metals worth $47 million and $46 million respectively.
Figuresfrom the Report on Import and Export of Ores, Slag and Ash in Central America,prepared by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData.com show that in 2015 the countries in the region exported 1,207,000 tons of ores, slag and ash, equivalent in value to $93.4 million.
The Belgian company Nyrstar sold to Morumbi Resources 100% of the subsidiary American Pacific Honduras, owner of the El Mochito zinc mine.
From a press release by Morumbi Resources:
Toronto, Ontario, September 22, 2016 – Morumbi Resources Inc. (“Morumbi” or the “Company”) (TSX-V:MOC) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a share purchase agreement (the “Agreement”) with certain affiliates of Nyrstar NV (collectively "Nyrstar") to purchase 100% of Nyrstar's indirect subsidiary American Pacific Honduras SA de CV ("AMPAC") and its flagship asset, the producing El Mochito Zinc Mine (collectively "El Mochito") in Honduras (the “Transaction”).
Less mining of metals such as silver, lead, zinc and iron oxide explains the 17% drop in mining activities in the first quarter, compared to the last quarter.
In the quarterly GDP report up to March 2016 the Central Bank states that"...The negative result in Mining and Quarrying (-17.0%) was associated with a decline in metal ore mining (silver, lead, zinc and iron oxide), which has been discouraged by low prices in the international market, which do not stimulate the development of projects aimed at exploring new mineral deposits. "
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 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.
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.
The Hernández administration has agreed to reserve 18 zones with mining potential for exploration and exploitation in order to generate resources for the state.
Of the 950 sites that are being evaluated to determine whether they have potential for mineral extraction, 18 have been reserved for exploitation by the state.
Ebal Diaz, presidential adviser, told Laprensa.hn that "...
After having purged concessions made in the past, the government is now providing new exploration licenses at the rate of 20 per month.
'Growing interest ... between domestic and foreign investors " has been noted in relation to the opportunities the country offers in this area.
The approximately 20 requests per month registered are for mineral exploration, because before granting an operating permit a series of studies must be carried out in order to determine if the area is profitable. Currently only 6 companies, mostly of foreign capital, have licenses.
Conflicts over environmental protection and excessive bureaucracy in the process of granting concessions are the factors that limit the great mining potential in the region.
The mining sector in Central America represents great potential for investment and business, however, it has so far contributed only 0.75% to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), averaged from the six countries in the region, between 2008 and 2012.
An announcement has been made that the Monte Redondo mine which is operated by the concessionaire Five Star Mining has resumed overseas sales of iron oxide, after having suspended them in May this year.
After having announced in May that exports were suspended due to unfavorable conditions prevailing in prices in the international market, the mine in Agalteca has resumed sales, according to municipal authorities.
The government has announced that it will revise all contracts awarded and projects that are not being run will be reassigned.
State institutions responsible for granting operating licenses to mining, forestry, clean energy generation and hydrocarbon projects, have a deadline of two weeks to complete the collection of all permits, licenses and concessions granted in the past two governments and present a report to President Juan Orlando Hernandez, who will decide whether or not to revoke the licenses that have not been executed in order to reallocate the revoked contracts to new investors.