DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

On 2 May 2026, President Luis Abinader said “no” to GoldQuest that seeks to exploit vast gold deposits in San Juan de la Maguana. But there is doubt whether this is a temporary “no” or a permanent “no” to gold mining in the Tireo Formation area in the Central Mountain Range.

Past Presidents Leonel Fernandez and Danilo Medina did not authorize the exploitation for the same implications of threats to water sources and impact on the environment and food security. But GoldQuest has been able to advance its exploration and exploitation permit process under Minister of Environment Paino Henriquez during the Abinader administration.

Luis Santana, spokesperson for GoldQuest, told investigative reporter Nuria Piera during an interview for the 9 May 2026 investigative report on Channel 9 that the company would be using AN/FO to open the underground mining chambers. Santana has...