the nation prepares two new mining rounds in which titles will be offered for the exploration and production of gold and coal.
The processes that make part of the calls Strategic Mining Areas (AEM)are being organized by the National Mining Agency (ANM) and the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME), and will be held this year.
(Oil and coal, with eyes on Ukraine).
Although the Colombian Geological Service (SGC) has not defined the number of areas that will be offered in the rounds, as well as the places in the country where the operation will be carried out, Portafolio established with MME sources that the date and place for the pre-launch of the rounds, in the case of gold, since the specifications and requirements are ready.
“Everything is ready, but due to the agenda item, the day and time have not been defined, since with the announcement, the zones will be indicated and the opening time will be indicated.”, explained a spokesman for the MME
Likewise, the structuring of the tender for coal is being completed; however, one of the mines could enter the round for this mineral is that of horny (which is part of the Prodeco complex in Cesar), as pointed out by the Minister of Mines and Energy, Diego Mesa, in a recent interview with this newspaper.
(Mining sector projects a growth of 10% in the year).
“The dealers made the decision to relinquish the titles. In addition to analyzing the possibility of selling or transferring the assets that are part of this operation, the possibility of designating the area that belongs to the Calenturitas mine is also being explored as a Strategic Mining Area (AEM), to offer it in the processes of mining rounds for the next quarter. What is attractive is that the environmental license does not depend directly on the company, but is granted to the project”said at that time the head of the energy mining portfolio.
Thus, the two new public tenders are added to those already open for the extraction of phosphates and copper.
Even this for this last metal, on February 9 the ANM declared two new AEM for the metal in the municipalities of San Diego and La Paz (Cesar).
(Ancestral mining would be declared cultural heritage of the Nation).
“These areas represent an opportunity for Colombia to diversify its mineral matrix, generate new sources of employment and resources for the regions, while providing competitive conditions that promote exploration and exploitation, making the country more attractive to investors” , explained Juan Miguel Durán, president of the ANM.
Taking into account the reports of the SGC and the analyzes carried out by the ANM, the AEM 2 extended and AEM 15 blocks were delimited as AEM, which have a high potential to host copper and precious metal mineralization. These blocks add up to a total approximate area of 8,788.5391 hectares.
The AEMs allow the generation of additional resources for the Nation and for the regions through consideration economic additional to the royalties, as well as direct investment in the region derived from the Social Management Plans of the contracts.
It should also be remembered that these are areas in which the existence of high potential for strategic minerals has been established as a result of the prospecting carried out in the area by the SGC. Once delimited by the Mining Authority, it is not possible to receive new proposals or sign mining concession contracts in these areas, and they must be granted through a special exploration and exploitation contract through objective selection processes.
ALFONSO LOPEZ
BRIEFCASE
