from DMM board Guayaquil, Sept. 19 (Andes) .- The Chinese-Canadian business Ecuacorriente (ECSA) is the first in obtaining environmental licenses for large-scale mining in Ecuador, issued by the Ministry of Environment.For his part, Deputy Minister of Mines, Federico Auquilla revealed that the mining project is one of the largest in South America, with an investment of USD 1 630 million.The company will develop its activities in the Amazonian province of Zamora Chinchipe in the form to 'open' to exploit gold, said Environment Minister Marcela Aguinaga.The official noted that "within a few days to sign the contract with the State, where (sic) will determine the royalty and tax rates in addition to the windfall by increasing ore prices. After that will begin construction of the Mirador project. "The site is located in the parish Tundayme, locality El Pangui, Zamora Chinchipe province, near the Cordillera del Condor, in the border with Peru.According to the deputy minister in the province of Zamora Chinchipe ranks 18 of contributions to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), but with the presence of mining projects will go to fourth.The authority said that since it took effect the Mining Law (January 2009) have not been given concessions, but permits for state enterprises such as the Corporación Nacional del Cobre de Chile (Codelco) from Venezuela and other conduct research (exploration) in Ecuador.Other major projects being negotiated with Ecuador are 'Fruta del Norte' (from the Canadian Kinross), which will process 400 000 ounces of gold a year, and Rio Blanco (San Luis of the Canadian Minerals).Evaluation phase is the project Quimbacocha (from Canada Jambold Ecuador) and San Carlos Pananza (from China Explorcobre), which should ensure its reserves for a final negotiation.To date, according Auquilla, there is a 90% enforcement of the Mining Law, the other 10% are artisanal miners representing 80% of people engaged in activity with 1 400 concessions that remain after the mining mandate.These small projects are concentrated in the area Nambija (Zamora Chinchipe), Camilo Ponce Enríquez (Azuay), Napo and Esmeraldas, where a process of modernization so that the activity is done with the least environmental impact and without the use of hazardous substances that damage health and the ecosystem.The Zaruma-Portovelo mining district (one of the largest gold reserves) in the coastal province of El Oro, 70% of small miners began the process of regularization, such as social security benefits for workers, licensing and environmental audits and the ban on mercury in the extraction of minerals.It is expected that in 2014 the Ecuadorian mining sector is fully regularized, so that investments by foreign companies in the country would exceed USD 5 500 million over the next three years