The insecurity that occurs in some areas of the country and that hinders exploration activities, led to the fact that Four mining companies will make the decision to stop their operations and leave Colombia in 2023.
Another factor that influenced this decision was “the current uncertainty of the country in relation to investment”. This was granted by the president of the Colombian Mining Association (ACM), Juan Camilo Nariño, who preferred to reserve the names of these companies.
(Also read: New US law opens opportunities for Colombia to export copper and nickel)
Gold mining in Bajo Cauca.
Government of Antioquia
However, he said that these companies were developing their activities in Antioquia, Caldas and southern Colombia. In addition, they planned to invest approximately $35 million to $50 million in their exploration activities to develop copper and gold projects.
“That sounds little, but you go and invest 10 million dollars in exploration in a municipality in the south of the country, which is not an activity that remains in the territory and does not have a minimal environmental impact,” said the union leader.
(Also read: Oil and mining boosted record currency flow that arrived in Colombia in April)
Insecurity to operate
The president of the ACM also revealed that companies such as Miners are also experiencing difficulties in operating in the surroundings of the municipality of El Bagre and the Nechí river.
There is a company operation, making huge environmental efforts, with huge restrictions on its production in an environment of complete illegality“Said the union leader.
(Also read: Open pit mining: this is the controversial project in the municipality of Tabio)
Juan Camilo Nariño, president of the ACM.
A similar situation exists in the municipality of Segovia and its surroundings where Aris Mining operates, since there is an informal historicity and illegality in gold mining.
This adds to the difficult situation he is going through mainland gold at its Buriticá gold mine, after a terrorist attack carried out by illegal miners on May 17 killed two people.
these miners They threw a cylinder bomb in the Higabra tunnel from its anti-technical tunnels, in order to attack people and the company’s infrastructure. In addition, two days ago one of the Continental Gold employees was injured after being shot.
The president of the ACM stated that these acts of violence They are putting 4,200 direct and indirect jobs at risk generated by the company, in addition to approximately 500,000 million pesos that it pays in royalties and taxes.
