The Ministry of Energy and Mines has announced it is working with representatives of associations and small mining cooperatives to coordinate actions to improve the exploitation of larimar, the semi-precious stone that is only found in the Dominican Republic.
The first meeting was announced between Energy and Mines Minister Antonio Isa Conde and the associations and cooperatives, following the executive order that instructed the Ministry to regulate the exploitation, permitting, processing and export of larimar and amber. Isa Conde said that they would be exploring how to improve levels of security, improve productivity are improve the working and living conditions of miners as well as how to increase the economic benefits for the communities where the mines are located.
Larimar is only found in a specific area, mainly the mine at Los Checheses-Los Chupaderos, around ten kilometres from Barahona in the southwest of the country. Since 1975, around 500 miners have worked in the mines to extract the mineral. It is estimated that 200 artisans work to transform the stone into jewellery and ornamental pieces.
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El Nuevo Diario
15 January 2019
