The Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM), this Friday, December 1, reported the granting of a new concession of more than 4,200 hectares for metallic and non-metallic exploitation to the company Desarrollo Minero de Nicaragua (Desminic), a subsidiary of the Caliber Mining Corp., with Canadian capital.
Through ministerial agreement 058-DGM-004-2022, published in The Gazettethe state institution explained that it granted a total of 4,291.29 hectares of land located in the lot called “Jaspe” in the municipality of Rancho Grande, Matagalpa.
He noted that Desminic had requested to explore 4,500.41 hectares, however the MEM reduced 139.08 hectares of overlap with the buffer zone of the Cerro Kuskawas nature reserve.
Related news: Sanctioned General Directorate of Mines granted two concessions to Desminic
In addition, the entity establishes a series of obligations to the mining company such as “not carrying out exploration and exploitation work within 100 meters of towns, nearby properties, religious buildings, wells, both sides of communication routes, aqueducts, oil pipelines and works of public utility without authorization from the Ministry of Energy and Mines”.
Desminic must also submit a detailed report on the artisanal miners located within the concession within a period of no more than six months, which must include a list of the people who are carrying out the activity, their location, methods and exploitation capacity.
Said concession grants Desminic the right of exclusivity for the exploration, exploitation, establishment of benefit plants on the mineral substances considered in the law and found within the constituency of the same. The hectares of land were ceded to the company for a period of 25 years.
concessions granted
On November 30, the Ortega administration granted two concessions to Desminic, one of 7,648.77 hectares in the municipalities of Río Blanco and Matiguás, Matagalpa; and another of 7,000 hectares in the municipality of Teutespe, Boaco.
The three concessions announced by the MEM in favor of Desminic total 18,939.29 hectares of land granted for mining exploration and exploitation.
According to the state institution, the mining company complied with the legal cadastral requirements to be a beneficiary of these concessions.
Caliber Mining Corp invested some 20 million dollars last year in its exploration programs in Nicaragua, according to official figures disclosed by the company on its website. The two exploration permits were applied for by Desminic in 2020.
In Nicaragua, mining operations occupy 8.3% of the national territory, that is, 9,833.26 square kilometers until the year 2020 with 274 concessions, according to official statistics of the MEM. Another 116 concessions have been requested for the exploitation of 16.11% of the national territory, equivalent to 19,175.98 square kilometers of surface. Official figures indicate that 48,391.59 square kilometers of the national territory are suitable for mining activity, that is, 40.66% of the country.
The income from extraction rights and surface rights from mining in Nicaragua left the country, between 2007 and 2020, a total of 4 thousand 531 million 651 thousand 785.45 córdobas. Only in 2020 income was received in the order of 671 million 160 thousand 726.17 córdobas.
