Former Minister of Tourism Francisco Javier Garcia has expressed his concern regarding the exploitation of the rare earth elements in Pedernales. The mining operation adds to several projects the Abinader administration has underway for the southwestern province that is on the border with Haiti. He spoke during an interview with Su Mundo TV.
Javier Garcia alerted that the exploitation of rare earth elements could result in harm to the environment, the health and the economy. He warned about the toxic gases that the exploitation could generate.
Javier Garcia says that wherever rare earth elements are exploited the nearby lands come under threat, included the flora and fauna and the population.
Radioactive waste becomes dust and gas that circulate in the breeze and can travel thousands of kilometers. Many Dominicans may suffer from radioactive diseases. “If news gets out that a Dominican has become sick from radioactive contamination, there will be no more tourists traveling here,” he warned.
President Luis Abinader had said during the press conference on the occasion of the visit of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in early February 2025 that in the DR there around 100 millon gross tons of rare element earth. He said ongoing investigations should conclude in “two or three months” with the feasibility defining net reserves. Already, the Abinader administration has created the Emidom public company to exploit the rare element earth. Mining expert Alburquerque says that the REE can be concentrated for export.
Yet, Javier Garcia says the government has been creating misconstrued expectations. He said the expoitation process has highly toxicity and radioactive.
He criticized the Abinader administration for “exaggerating everything.” He said the Abinader government reminds him of the “La Tremenda Corte.”
Javier García is an expiring candidate to the Presidency for the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD).
Read more:
Su Mundo TV
El Nuevo Diario
El Nacional
Esta Noche con Mariasela interview with Rolando Muñoz Mejia, director of mining at the Ministry of Energy and Mines
Science Direct
21 February 2025