Venezuelan company Dominico-Venezolana Minera y Construccion (Dovemco) says that bauxite exports are expected to start in March, reports Hoy. The first shipment of 50,000 tons will be exported to China. The port of Cabo Rojo will receive cargo ships of up to 40,000 tons. Exportable bauxite has been estimated at 24 millions tons, which could generate US$4.5 million a month. The agreement establishes that the government will receive US$8 per ton, according to Hoy sources.
Ecologists Ernesto Rupp and Jose Perez Feliz of Grupo Jaragua told Hoy that although the exports will provide great profits for the government and Dovemco, they are concerned about the environmental impact. Furthermore, as reported, residents of Pedernales say that when Alcoa Exploration Company operated the concession it built housing and infrastructure. Bauxite areas have been identified as Las Mercedes because deposits in Canote, Turco, Aceitillar and other areas of the Bahoruco mountain range are protected areas.
As reported, 150,000 tons of bauxite could be extracted from Las Mercedes every month.
Hoy says that investors could convince the government to reroute the highway that leads to the Aceitillar reserves to provide access to the more than a million tons of bauxite in the area.
Antonio Ferreras Trinidad and Jose Perez Feliz of the Pedernales Ecotourism Cluster and Grupo Jaragua say that tourism and mining can co-exist.
http://hoy.com.do/economia/2013/2/14/467195/RD-estaria-exportando-bauxita-en-un-mes-desde-Pedernales