El Salvador's Congress approves ending ban on metals mining

Source: Associated Press

El Salvador’s Congress approves ending ban on metals mining

Updated 9:53 PM EST, December 23, 2024

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) — El Salvador’s Congress approved Monday a law that would lift the country’s seven-year-old ban on mining for metals.

The law, proposed by President Nayib Bukele and passed on a 57 to 3 vote, would allow mining everywhere except nature reserves and sensitive watersheds. It’s expected to go into law with his approval.

The law bans the use of toxic mercury in gold mining, and would require private companies to enter a type of joint venture with the government to open mines.

Environmentalists and the Roman Catholic church oppose the resumption of mining, citing potential damage to ecosystems, but Bukele called the ban “absurd” earlier this year.

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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/el-salvador-law-bukele-gold-mining-16864deac495dd5a3f2cf4dfd17e06a7