DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

The Ministry of Energy and Mines announced on Monday, 19 January 2026 that it has no plans to authorize mining exploitation in the Cordillera Septentrional, following inconclusive exploration results in the provinces of Puerto Plata and Santiago.

The official statement dated 19 January 2026 clarifies that recent activities associated with a 2024 concession have been “exclusively exploratory” and have failed to identify any mineral deposits of economic significance.

The Ministry of Environment says that according to technical reports, airborne geophysical tests conducted in October 2025 yielded “unsatisfactory” results for those seeking viable mining sites. Consequently, the government confirmed that the project has not progressed, and will not progress, toward a development or extraction phase.

To manage public expectations and environmental concerns, the Ministry...