After an attack in which two workers from the company were killed Zijin mainland gold which operates in the municipality of Buriticá, in western Antioquia, the government took a series of measures against illegal mining.
You can also read: Labor reform: what are the changes of the Government in the project filed?
The Minister of Mines and Energy, Irene Vélez, announced that together with the Defense Ministry, the National Police, the National Mining Agency (ANM) and Antioquia authorities made the decision to give administrative protection to legal miners. In addition, he said that there will be a control of the explosives used in the region and the energy that could be used by the illegal minery.
We reject violent actions at the Zijin-Continental Gold mine in Buriticá, Antioquia. The explosion of a suitable cylinder with explosives in the Igabra tunnel left two people dead and 14 affected. Our solidarity with families and the full weight of the law for the violent 🧵
— Irene Velez-Torres (@IreneVelezT) May 18, 2023
“We reject the violent actions at the Zijin Continental Gold mine. The explosion of a suitable cylinder with explosives in the Igabra tunnel left two people dead and 14 affected. Our solidarity with the families and the full weight of the law for the violent, ”Vélez assured through his Twitter account.
In order to guarantee the safety and life of its employees and contractors, the company made the decision to suspend its underground operation at least until security guarantees are provided.
In order to guarantee the safety and life of its employees and contractors, the company made the decision to suspend its underground operation.
Courtesy Zijin-Continental
After an extraordinary security council that was held in the presence of local and departmental authorities, the Police and the Army, the governor of Antioquia, Hannibal Gaviriaannounced a reward of 50 million pesos for information that leads to clarifying the facts and perpetrators of the attack.
Given what happened, the Colombian Mining Association (ACM) He rejected the terrorist attack and called on the National Government to guarantee the security and right to work of a million Colombians who are now part of this industry.
“The development of the legal mining activity cannot turn the workers of the industry into targets for the violent ones”, he sentences.
To this call is also added the National Association of Foreign Trade (Analdex), who said that it is necessary to intervene quickly in the situation of illegal mining in the area and provide assurances so that the company can work with all the guarantees. «This anxiety and insecurity can scare away foreign investment in this and in all sectors,» warned the union led by Javier Díaz.