LSP is on it. This interview is encouraging.Mining is controversial in all parts of the world. There are around 83 projects stopped in Latin America due to problems. And part of the problem is that really, up until now, sometimes the industry hasn't been very good at communicating with communities.
So, that lack of communication has been exploited by people who don't know about mining either, but who have heard things in the past that mining is harmful.
—Do you think that is what is happening with the Romero project in San Juan?
If you go to the communities that are around the Romero project, they are 100 percent supporting the environmental and social impact study.
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—And why doesn't the government end up giving you permission to do that study?
The problem is that I can give you a permit, but if the people who have a certain movement are going to prevent that from happening (...) We have been explaining this for two years (which is a permit for a study) and finally I think that We are at a point where the people of San Juan -not the people who are up there around the project- understand that the environmental impact study is a study that allows us to make decisions.
—For the President of the Republic to authorize this study, does the people have to be all in favor?
No.
—Can't the president, because of his State capacity, prevail over these criticisms and order this?
Remember that we are a democratic country and that we try to explain to people the reasons for the decisions, because sometimes they are very controversial decisions and could lead to events that would have serious consequences.
"Then how can you say that this request is now?"
We are very far along on that permit. I would say that it is a process that we have to continue in dialogue with the communities in San Juan, explaining about mining. I myself have been to several presentations.
—This company, the Canadian Gold Quest, has invested in its facilities to carry out the explorations. Aren't you afraid that he will become disenchanted and withdraw from that project?
No. I hope they are aware that we are working hard to earn the social license.
– Do you think that will be this year or before the end of the Luis Abinader government?
That's hard to (say). We have made a lot of progress (...) Sometimes you have very good intentions, but if you do not have knowledge, it may be that you say things that do not adhere to reality (...)
To the extent that the Dominican citizen understands mining more, I am certain that it will be easier to develop mining projects.
—Do you think that fame has affected you, perhaps, of what has happened in other countries, where mining deforests, contaminates rivers, and the local experience with the former La Rosario mine?
That is precisely what we are trying to explain to people. For example, mining occupies less than 1 percent of the national territory. However, people have an image that mining is destroying the entire country.
Mining uses less than .5 percent of the country's water resources and each mining project has a water treatment plant, an issue that guarantees here that the water it discharges meets the standards for that river basin.
—We have the case of Barrick, which is the main mining company; Romero's project, which is there on hold, and a third large one, we could say is Cormidom's.
The big three companies here are Barrick, Falcondo and Cormidom
Full article-https://www.diariolibre.com/economia/negocios/2023/06/22/viceministro-de-minas-con-oro-de-barrick-caida-se-recupera/2380294