The dictatorship of Daniel Ortega handed over two new mining concessions to a businessman from the People’s Republic of China, the country allied to the regime of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo. The new exploitation permits cover an area of 9,108.90 hectares in Chinandega and were delivered to Thomas Metal, SA, of the investor Xiangming Gu.
On April 22, the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) published in La Gaceta a mining concession for 36,610.10 for the Chinese company Nicaragua XinXin Linze Minería Group, SA. In total, 45,719 hectares have been delivered for exploration and exploitation of metallic and non-metallic minerals in three days.
Related news: Dictatorship delivers more than 36 thousand hectares of land to Chinese mining company
A part of the mining exploitation area, according to the official note, was excluded because it was within the buffer zone in the Estero Real Delta Natural Reserve, in the municipality of Villanueva, department of Chinandega, according to Ministerial Resolution No. 005- DM-004-2024 of the MEM, published in La Gaceta No. 72 of this Wednesday, April 24, 2024.
The lots authorized for the Chinese capital company are called “Carambola” and “Red Dragon”, the first covers an area of 8,318.90 hectares and the second 800 hectares, to add up to 9,108.90 hectares, respectively.
According to the MEM, the holder of the concession will have “the right of exclusivity for the exploration, exploitation, allocation and establishment of benefit plants on the mineral substances considered in the Law and found within its circumscription.”
The other concessions to Chinese companies
The Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) delivered a mining concession for a 1,200 hectare lot to the company Thomas Metal Public Limited Company. The publication of La Gaceta, Official Gazette, of December 22, 2023, explains that “the lot Wonderful Gold It was granted for the use of metallic and non-metallic minerals in the area of Villanueva, Chinandega.
The document indicates that the company made the concession request on September 27, 2023 and in less than two months, on November 24, it was granted the concession to exploit metallic and non-metallic materials. From what is extracted, the regime takes, according to the agreement, 3% of the profits.
The government agency explained that the lot granted, named Wonderful Goldhas an area of 1,200 hectares and is located in the Villanueva municipality, in the department of Chinandega.
The mining company obtained the concession of said lot for 25 years, which will come into effect from the date of issuance of the official certificate. One of the conditions of the procedure is that Thomas Metal SA begins its operations within a period of no more than four years, although they have a one-year extension.
