Minister of Energy and Mines Antonio Isa Conde says that Cemento Santo Domingo’s mining permit has not been revoked. He clarified, however, that the cement manufacturer had requested a mining concession that was denied because 92.78% of the area where the company’s operations are located fall within the protected areas defined by Law 202-04 and Decree 571-09.
“If Cemento Santo Domingo has requested a mining concession permit, it is simply because it did not have one. We have not revoked anything. They were denied a request because the area borders the Sectorial Law of Protected Areas 202-04 and Decree 571-09, but nothing has been revoked,” said Isa Conde. The property is within the limits of the Parque Nacional Francisco Alberto Caamano Deno protected area and buffer zones.
The Abinader family has accused the Medina administration of committing an abuse of power because Luis Abinader is seeking the Presidency. They claim that they have been authorized to operate in the area for years.