The consortium Dong Jyu Group is exploring business opportunities in Honduras, with the objective of marketing minerals such as gold, silver and bronze, as well as opal and jade.
From a statement issued by the Honduran Institute of Geology and Mines:
February 5, Tegucigalpa. - The president of the Taiwanese consortium Dong Jyu Goup, Donal Lin and his team, met with the Executive Director of the Honduran Institute of Geology and Mines (INHGEOMIN), with the purpose of consolidating the mining investment processes currently being carried out in the country.
From January to September 2017, regional exports of metalliferous minerals totalled $59 million, 40% more than in the same period in 2016.
Figures from the information system on the the Metal Ores Market in Central America, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with the graph"]
The Ministry of Energy and Mines has requested that the Executive Power authorize the Canadian company Gold Quest a mining license for the Romero project in San Juan de la Maguana.
Seven years is the estimated useful life of the deposit of gold, silver, copper, zinc and lead, whose present value is around $561 million in accordance with the current prices of metals.
After seven months of suspended operations, the company that operates the Escobal mine in Guatemala has announced that it is making 250 workers redundant.
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.
The bill contemplates creating a National System for the Distribution of Mining State Income, which would use the funds generated to finance sustainable development projects in the country.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Energy and Mines:
SANTO DOMINGO, December 17, 2017. The Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) sent the Executive Branch theDraft Mining Law, a consensual initiative that promotes a greater participation of the State in the wealth extracted without being detrimental to the profitability of private enterprise in a win-win model.
Next year the B2Gold mining company plans to produce around 118 thousand ounces of gold in the Tope and San Juan project, in the municipality of La Libertad.
Authorities at the mining company explained that in 2017 production was lower because they had not obtained all of the permits, but now, with the approval of the environmental impact studies, B2Gold plans to increase activities and consequently the extraction of gold.
Of the 125 licenses granted by the State to carry out mining activities in the country, 55 correspond to deposits in the southern provinces, and 32% of that total, to San Cristóbal.
Figures from the Ministry of Energy and Mines indicate that of the 55 licenses corresponding to deposits in the south of the country, half were granted for exploitation of limestone, base for cement, 16% for gypsum and 7% for clay.
Businessmen from the Dominican mining industry will be meeting on December 5 to discuss, among other issues, how to improve conditions to attract more investment to the sector.
The activity is being organized by the Oil Mining Chamber of the Dominican Republic (Camipe), and will be held at the Sheraton Hotel in Santo Domingo.
In a statement the Camipe stated that "...The first panel, which which is entitled 'Importance of mining in the Dominican Republic', will be presented by Jochi Vicente, general manager of MacroAnalit and as panelists to Ernesto Selmán, vice president of the Regional Center for Sustainable Economic Strategies (Crees); Álvaro Sousa Sevilla, president of Adoexpo, and Felix Nova, senator of the Monseñor Nouel province."
Creating mixed capital companies and increasing promotion in new markets are some of the alternatives that businesses are proposing to further develop the marble industry.
Figures from the Central Bank indicate that in 2016 marble production rose by 15% with respect to the previous year, followed by an increase of almost 8% in the production of sand, grit and gravel.Given the particular and complex characteristics of marble production, business people working in the sector believe that more investment is needed for the Dominican marble industry in order to take advantage of its maximum potential.
From November 15th to 17th, companies from the mining industry in Central America and the Caribbean will be meeting at the Vasco Núñez de Balboa Convention Center in Panama.
In the Expo Minera Internacional event, organized by the Mining Chamber of Panama (Camipa), representatives from industrial companies will be taking part, where issues will be discussed such as public policies in mining, technology and innovation, mining and human resources, as well as information on the main mining projects that are being developed in the region.
Mining activities have grown at an annual average of 9% in the last ten years, mainly due to growing foreign investment, an increase in production and favorable international prices.
A report presented by the Nicaraguan Mining Chamber states that between 2006 and 2016, foreign direct investment totaled $793 million, having an annual average of $79 million.
Amid blockades by local residents, the company that operates the Escobal mine in Guatemala is trying to normalize its activities, after having obtained a legal guarantee to do so.
A ruling by the Guatemalan Supreme Court has granted an action for infringement of fundamental rights and freedoms in favor of the environmental group that claimed there was a lack of consultation with the local community, but the ruling does allow the mining company to resume work.
The condition is that the Ministry of Energy and Mines must carry out the community consultation established by ILO Convention 169 on Indigenous Peoples.Licenses to operate the mine were suspended in early July. See: "Another Mining Company Suspended in Guatemala"
In 2012 gold exports to Canada amounted to $377 million, equivalent to 54% of the total exported by the region that year, but four years later the figure has fallen to 0.
Figures of the information system on the Gold Market in Crude, Semi Wrought or Powder form in Central America, compiled by CentralAmericaData's Business Intelligence Unit: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with the graph"]