Currently, mining products are the fourth most exported item from Ecuador, after oil, bananas and shrimp.
With the entry into production of the Loma Larga, Curipamba and La Plata mining projects between 2023 and 2024, in addition to the production of the mines Fruta del Norte and Mirador and the continuous growth of small-scale activities mining, Ecuador projects the export of $ 4,040 million of products from the mining in the year 2025.
According to the Minister of Energy and Non-Renewable Natural Resources, Juan Carlos Bermeo Calderón “the sector miner It represents a great opportunity to invest, since a project or mine requires various services such as transportation, food, connectivity, among others ”.
Until August 2021, the sector miner legal, consisting of small, medium and large mining It employed approximately 50,000 workers directly and it is projected that by 2025, more than 300,000 direct and indirect jobs will be reached by this activity.
On the other hand, the Vice Minister of Mines, Xavier Vera Grunauer pointed out that “minerals are essential for the energy transition and new clean energy technologies.
In Ecuador, 6.93% of the national territory is dedicated to activities mining and of this percentage, only 1.55% are carried out operating activities “.
Opposition to mining is radicalized
Despite the Government’s plans, and growth projections, the activities mining They have growing opposition from social and environmental sectors.
Not only have there been claims of unconstitutionality on Decree 151, which is the pillar of the investment policy of the Guillermo Lasso administration.
In addition, in sectors such as Pacto, north of Quito, the control authorities have been received violently by sectors that are increasingly radically opposed to the activity.
A group from the so-called Anti-Mining Front, according to a police report from the Nanegal District, allegedly attacked public officials from various State institutions while they were carrying out a control activity. miner last November 4.
The north zone coordinator of the Ministry of Energy, Mauricio Almeida, announced that state entities will initiate legal actions against the leaders of the Anti-Mining Front.
“The fury of the anti-miners was unleashed when the state authorities could not verify that the Natural Resources company was polluting the water in its mining activities,” said Almeida.
In Pacto, environmental groups argue that the seven mining concessions (7,053 hectares) are causing severe environmental damage. (JS)
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