Education Public & Possible Mine EmployeesMEM STARTS MINING DIPLOMA FOR JOURNALISTS; HIGHLIGHT CONTRIBUTION OF THE SECTOR TO THE ECONOMY OF THE DR Print Friendly, PDF & Email With the aim of offering academic and professional training on the extractive industry, the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM), through its Vice Ministry of Mines, began this Saturday the First Diploma on Mining for Journalists. The course, which takes place in the Oval Room of the Octavio Antonio Rojas Library of the Santo Domingo Catholic University (UCSD), has the collaboration of the Dominican College of Journalists (CDP), and is aimed at communication professionals. Giving the opening remarks, Minister Antonio Almonte highlighted the importance of guiding communicators and public opinion makers about the positive impact of mining on the human, economic and social development of the nation, as long as this activity goes hand in hand with the environment. Mining has an economic impact, it has a social impact in terms of employment and transformation of communities. No economy in the world turns its back on mining activities, due to their contributions in all areas of social life. The great challenge we have is to carry out these extractions without damaging the environment," explained engineer Almonte to more than 30 journalists enrolled in the diploma course made up of 7 modules that will be taught on Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. He stressed that the issues concerning mining extraction, the ministry he directs does not hide them, but deals with them with the communicators so that they have a comprehensive approach to this sector and thus can freely discuss these issues with the specialists who offer the diploma course. The first speaker was the geologist Osiris de Len, who made a historical account of mining and emphasized that mining supplies the metals that require the production of telephones, medical equipment, cars, heavy machinery, and supplies for agriculture and construction. Likewise, Aurelio Henrquez, president of the Dominican College of Journalists, congratulated Minister Almonte for taking the initiative to train communicators through this diploma on a subject as vital to the Dominican economy as mining. The course, made up of seven modules and four field visits, will provide participants with a comprehensive approach to the mining industry; its economic relevance, the mining cycle from exploration to the closure of the mine if the deposit has economic and social merit; the standards regulations that regulate the relationship with the environment and the reasons why mining is a key pillar in the energy transition. It also seeks to provide guidance on the extractive industry with the purpose of contributing to a greater understanding of the contributions that mining activity makes for the benefit of human, economic and social development. In addition to the geologist from Len, the first day of training included speakers Miguel Daz, Vice Minister of Mines, and Rolando Muoz, Director of Mining. Also present were Miguel, Pea, adviser to the Executive Branch on mining matters; Freddy Lara, mining advisor to the Ministry of Energy and Mines, and Gustavo Mejia-Ricart, director of International Relations.