DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

Rafael Pérez / Hoy

Deputy Rafael “Rafelin” Pérez has voiced his total rejection of rare earth element (REE) mining in Pedernales. The lawmaker from the People’s Force (FP) party warned that such operations would devastate the municipality’s sole water supply and dismantle the agricultural economy of the José Francisco Peña Gómez municipal district.

The crux of the opposition lies in the geographical location of the deposits. According to Pérez, the mining sites are situated where the El Mulito River originates. As the only source of clean, fresh water for the local population, the river’s contamination or depletion would represent a critical setback for the province’s sustainability.

“The exploitation of rare earths would be a major reversal for the tourism development and sustainability of our province. Without water, there is no development,” Perez argues.

Economic...