Chinese investment and a former deputy minister, among the mining actors behind the Madidi park

Sergio Mendoza / The Cloud

Madidi Park is the new horizon for gold mining in Bolivia. With the stimulus of high prices on the world market and the certainty that sooner or later the precious metal will run out in the “traditional” areas of exploitation, the miners are advancing with the endorsement of the Government towards what is considered the most biodiverse area of ​​the world. world.

An investigation by La Nube, carried out using data from the Mining Administrative Jurisdictional Authority (AJAM), revealed that, until November of this year, 8% of the Madidi National Park and Natural Area of ​​Integrated Management, located in the north of La Paz was involved in about 140 mining companies and cooperatives.

Among these, there is at least one company linked to Chinese capital and a former deputy minister of the Movement for Socialism (MAS). These are just some findings, since some actors can only appear as white sticks and it is difficult to know who all those who are going after the mining wealth of the national protected area are.

Chinese investments

Runfeng Import & Export SRL is a company that processes 1,225 hectares for mining activity in Madidi. This company, based in the city of Cochabamba, is linked to the market in China and has a name similar to that of a company in this Asian country: Linyi Runfeng Import & Export Co. Ltd., located in Shandong, the second most populated province of the Asian giant.

La Nube consulted this company about its relationship with that foreign company, but the official with whom it had contact indicated that the question could not be clarified due to the end of the year parties and formalities in the firm’s policy.

For its part, Betoya Industrial Development Company SRL has concessioned 2,325 hectares in Madidi since before the Mining Law (2014). This company is linked to Chinese investment in Bolivia.

Last year, the company’s representative, Long Zhu, sued the Mining Ministry for reversing part of his hectares in favor of the state.

Former cooperative leader

Likewise, the investigation found the name of a former mining cooperative leader who, according to data from AJAM and Fundempresa, became a businessman.

It is about Noel Chambi Salas, who wants 2,250 hectares in the Madidi park. He was a cooperative leader in Mapiri, but at the same time he is registered as the head of a sole proprietorship based in Palca. An attempt was made to converse with him via email, but to no avail.

A former deputy minister

Among one of the “top 10” in terms of the amount of land sought in the Madidi National Park, is Harley Jesús Rodríguez Téllez, with 4,625 hectares pending for mining activity according to AJAM data.

Rodríguez Téllez was Vice Minister of Public Investment and External Financing at least since April 2010, during the administration of Evo Morales. He left office in May 2017.

After the post-electoral conflicts of 2019 and the departure of the transitional government, Rodríguez returned to the same position in December 2020, once the Movement for Socialism regained power. But he didn’t stay long.

He retired from that position in April of this year. Currently he is no longer a public official, he is retired and dedicates himself to “personal things”, he indicated in a letter sent to La Nube.

Law 535, Article 30, establishes that no public official can become a mining actor from his appointment until two years after leaving office. It is not known if Rodríguez breached the norm, since he refused to specify the moment in which he began his procedures for the mining operation within Madidi. Nor did he indicate the moment when he ceased to be a public official. When asked if he violated the prohibition established in the law, he replied: “No comment.”

Top 10

Some of those mentioned are also among the mining actors who want more hectares in the Madidi Park; however, there are other companies and cooperatives that are at the top in terms of extension to operate in the protected area.

The first place is shared by the Aristóteles Mining Company SRL and the Skygold Mining Company, both with 5,225 hectares in process. According to Fundempresa’s records, Aristóteles SRL is located in Apolo.

In second place, there is the Intimunay Mining Company SRL, with 4,850 hectares, which is also based in Apolo. It is closely followed, with 4,750 hectares, by Empresa Minera Goldmadidi SRL, based in La Paz.

The fourth place is held by the former Deputy Minister of Public Investment and External Financing, Harley Jesús Rodríguez Téllez, with 4,625 hectares in process within Madidi, according to AJAM data.

In fifth place is the Cooperativa Minera Aurífera “Playa Hermosa” RL, with 4,525 hectares. Behind it is Comercializadora Turmalina SRL (4,425 hectares), and then the company Unionff SRL, based in Mapiri, and seeking 4,075 hectares.

The gold advance to the north

According to recent data from AJAM, it is evident that the Madidi protected area is being prepared for the mining of its rivers and hills.

If until May of this year it had been reported that at least 550 mining grids within Madidi were compromised by AJAM, by the end of November, the verified number was 11 times higher: 6,023 grids, equivalent to 150,575 hectares.

“Gold mining has been advancing from what was an area that we could call traditional (Guanay and Teoponte) to the north and has become more technical. It has been growing and marching north, towards Madidi, to one of the most important protected areas at the regional level due to the diversity of species and ecosystems ”, said Jorge Campanini, researcher from the Bolivian Documentation and Information Center (Cedib). .

Mining activity is highly polluting due to the chemical waste that it expels into the soil, air and water. One of the main concerns is the use of mercury, a heavy metal used to extract gold, which pollutes rivers and fish, the main source of water and food for many indigenous populations and communities.

This investigation was carried out within the framework of the Spotlight XI Competitive Fund to Support Journalistic Investigation in the Media, promoted by the Fundación Para el Periodismo.

They look for hectares

• Aristóteles Mining Company SRL This company processes 5,225 hectares for mining in the Madidi National Park.

• Skygold Mining Company Also with 5,225 hectares in process, it is at the top of the companies looking for land in the natural area.

• Intimunay SRL This company processes 4,850 hectares in the park and is placed in second place. It is followed with, 4,750 hectares, the Goldmadidi Mining Company SRL.