The Ministry of Energy & Mines (MEM) handpicked the Spanish public relations firm Llorente & Cuenca for RD$16,959,120 to “rescue the good reputation of Dominican mining.” The Ministry argues that mining is one of the five most important revenue sectors and has been a key sector in the economic reactivation after the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Ministry of Energy & Mines says that Llorente & Cuenca was hired “through an exceptional special bidding process.” The Ministry says the firm will structure an educational campaign for radio, TV and social networks on mining and its social, economic and technical importance to the Dominican Republic.
The firm also handles public relations for Barrick Gold, the country’s largest mining company. Barrick seeks to be allowed to build a second tailings dam for the continuing of its mining operations in the country. The tailings dam has met with major opposition from community and environment activists.
Barrick is not the only mining company that has met with strong opposition from community and environmental groups. In the past, because of the negative impact on the water sources, other major mining initiatives have met with rejection of the community. In the Dominican Republic, the Environment Law 64-00 requires that the community that will be directly impacted clear the project before the environmental permission is granted for a mining initiative.
This is the first time that government authorities announce taxpayer money will be spent on an educational advertising campaign to promote mining in the country.
In a press release, the MEM explains that for starters the consultancy will identify the challenges faced by the Ministry of Energy and Mines to restore a good name to the exploration and exploitation of metallic and non-metallic minerals in the country.
The educational campaign will include community discussions and workshops on mining and its contributions to the country’s development and studies on citizens’ perception of the mining sector.
The Ministry of Energy & Mines reports that from 2010 to 2019, mining contributed 15.3% of foreign direct investment to the country, making it the third-largest source of international resources, behind only trade and industry (24.7%) and tourism (19.4%).
In the year 2020, the National Budget estimated revenues from mining taxes at around RD$8.2 billion. However, at the close of that year, these amounted to more than RD$22 billion. The MEM says these funds were key to covering health sector’s pressing needs during the Covid-19 pandemic. For this year, mining tax collections are estimated to be at RD$27.2 billion.
Read more in Spanish:
Ministry of Energy & Mines
Presidency
Barrick Gold
Hoy
7 December 2021