The Ministry of Energy and Mines and private interests have unfolded a public relations campaign that is highlighting the would-be bonanzas of exploiting the huge gold deposits in San Juan de la Maguana, best known for its farm produce for the country.
The mine is situated 35km north of San Juan de la Maguana city. The project proposes mining at an average rate of approximately 2,800t a day to produce 1.117Moz of gold-equivalent during the seven to nine year life of the mine. The promotional campaign highlights exports of US$391 million a year. Past Presidents Leonel Fernandez, Hipolito Mejia, nor Danilo Medina authorized the exploitation for its implications to water sources and impact on the environment and food security.
GoldQuest Mining Corp. (GQC: TSX-V) describes itself as a Canadian-based exploration and development company focused on gold and copper in the Dominican Republic. The Canadian company seeks to get the licenses for the exploitation of gold in the southwestern hills of the country and promises responsible mining practices. At a time when climate change has brought many droughts, the company points to a solution using rainwater to reduce the risk of contaminating the water sources available for drinking water and farming. The Romero mine site is near to San Juan River, a major water source.
GoldQuest has stated that it has submitted to the Dominican government under a signed declaration a design for a subterranean mining project that harvests rainwater and will use no water from the San Juan River. According to GoldQuest, the proposed operation will rely on efficient water use and recycling, will not discharge anything into the San Juan River, a physical processing regime of a concentrate of gold, silver, copper for export. There will be no use of chemicals that can contaminate the San Juan River, says the sworn declaration from GoldQuest.
Environmentalists say the mountainous area will be impacted by the constructions to access the mine. If approved by the Dominican government, GoldQuest has said it will enter into the feasibility stage of the project with final technical design work for a 23 km. road, electric, fiber optic cables, and deep design of the subterranean mining operation and mineral processing facility.
San Juan de la Maguana for decades has been known as a major farm producer, but in recent years has been affected by diminishing rain, a consequence of climate change. This raises major doubts the rainwater solution would be appropriate.
President Luis Abinader has appointed lawyer Paino Henriquez as his new Minister of Environment. The previous minister of Environment, Antonio Almonte, issued the environmental permit to Goldquest. Abinader has said water sources are a priority for his administration. Covid-19 taught Dominicans the importance of food security.
While the company has gotten as far as to receive the environmental permit, it still needs the social and economic permit. The people who live in the area have a say. Goldquest is working to win the favor of the community.
Environmentalists and priests warn the water sources so essential for the people who live there will be negatively impacted. The mine has but a seven to nine year life span. Dominicans want to continue living there once the bonanza of the exploitation is past.
People have fresh in mind the price paid by the population in Cotuí with Barrick Gold and Bonao with Falconbridge. Despite the unfolding of a similar public relations and community-reach campaign, the people of Yamasa in Monte Plata rejected being chosen as the location of a tailings lake for the expansion sought for the Barrick Gold mine. Barrick Gold returned to the Cotuí area to build its second tailings lake.
Goldquest’s name says it all. The company is all about exploring for gold. Goldquest cannot show a mining venture in its past to give credibility to its promises. Once the permits are obtained, these will then be sold to an unnamed mining operation. Meanwhile, millions are poured into a public relations campaign that has been making headlines in the local press and has been working the community leadership to get the green light for the rainwater proposed mining operation.
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National Post
DR1 News
DR1 News
El Nuevo Diario
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El Caribe
El Dia
Diario Libre
18 September 2024