DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

President Luis Abinader’s decision on 4 May 2026, to order a halt on all government activities related to advancing toward exploitation rights in GoldQuest’s Romero project has sent a significant ripple through the Dominican mining sector. President Abinader has adhered to provisions that reinforce the social license as a non-negotiable requirement. The population of San Juan de la Maguana has protested arguing water sources are being traded for short term mining profits.

The Abinader administration, as have previous administrations, had authorized mining concessions and enabled advances but then has once again found itself faced by a population that rejects projects that threaten critical water sources like the Sabaneta Dam. The project is located high up in the Central Mountain Range.

Two other junior exploration and permission-seeking entities in the San Juan de la Maguana province...