On August 16 and 17, 2018 companies in the international mining industry will be gathering together in Managua, to take part in business conferences and discuss issues related to the sector.
The event is being organized by the Mining Chamber of Nicaragua and is expected to involve mining companies from all of the countries in Central America, and Canada, the United States, Colombia, Australia, England and Argentina.
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.
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."
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.
The Assembly is preparing to approve a bill that creates the Nicaraguan Mining Company (Empresa Nicaragüense de Minas), which will be able to participate in exploration and exploitation activities carried out by companies who have received concessions.
In addition to the possibility of participating directly in activities carried out by concessionaire companies, once the law is approved, the Nicaraguan Mining Company (ENIMINAS), "...
Guatemala's industrialists are demanding speed in the resolution of the case against the La Puya mine, property of Exmingua, whose operating permit was annulled a year ago by the Supreme Court of Justice.
At the end of June last year, the Supreme Court of Justice "definitively" revoked theoperating permitfor the mine La Puya, awarded to the company Progreso VII Derivatives. Now the mining union is asking the Constitutional Court to resolve the problem more quickly, consistent with and as a consequence of the ruling issued to OXEC and as a sign of equal rights and respect for the legal certainty of Guatemala.
The union of mining companies is promoting the arrival of new foreign investments in order to achieve greater development and formalization of metal mining in the country.
The president of the Mining Chamber of Nicaragua (Caminic), Sergio Rios, presented to foreign businessmen the characteristics and conditions offered by the country's for mining investments and invited them to invest in the country and take advantage of its geological potential.
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”).
Companies in the sector point to the favorable geological conditions for this activity in the country and advocate that the suspension of concessions which has been in effect since 2009 be lifted.
Companies engaged in exploration and mining activities support their argument citing the new ways in which the activity now takes place, differentiating the artisanal mining techniques which were used in the past from those used in modern mining.
The sale of the mine is part of a marketing plan for some of the assets owned by the Canadian concessionaire Goldcorp.
In addition to the operations of the Marlin mine, Goldcorp has put on sale its gold and silver mine Los Filos in Mexico, and also is studying alternatives to offload the Alumbrera mine in Argentina.
David Garofalo, executive director of the company, told Elperiodico.com.gt that "...
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.
The canadian company B2Gold has announced that it will be carrying out studies to determine the feasibility of mining explotation in the municipality of Rancho Grande in Matagalpa.
Among the analysis to be carried out by the company in the area of Rancho Grande are studies on the "soil, water, air, flora, fauna and culture of the community" according to a report by Elnuevodiario.com.ni.
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.