For the love of water: El Salvador's mining ban may cost $300m 'compensation'
For the love of water: El Salvador's mining ban may cost $300m 'compensation'
Lynn Holland
10th October 2015
Disastrous water pollution from gold mines in El Salvador has united government and people to oppose new metal mines, writes Lynn Holland. In Central America's most water scarce country, the imperative is to keep lakes, rivers and streams clean and wholesome. But there may be a heavy price to pay, with a Canadian mining company pressing a $300 million 'compensation' claim.
For some time now, US and Canadian mining companies have been seeking out new mining sites in Latin America and elsewhere in the developing world.
This is partly because high-grade ores that are easily accessible in the US and Canada are in the process of being used up. It is also due to expensive litigation and mitigation costs that mining companies must undertake in developed countries.
Not long ago, Salvadorans welcomed foreign owned mining companies into their country. Yet for the last several years, metal mining has been banned in El Salvador by presidential decree and citizen groups are now working to enact a permanent nationwide ban on such undertaking.
More:
http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_analysis/2985268/for_the_love_of_water_el_salvadors_mining_ban_may_cost_300m_compensation.html
Environment & Energy:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/112792228
