Deputy Rafael “Rafelin” Pérez has voiced his total rejection of rare earth element (REE) mining in Pedernales. The lawmaker from the People’s Force (FP) party warned that such operations would devastate the municipality’s sole water supply and dismantle the agricultural economy of the José Francisco Peña Gómez municipal district.
The crux of the opposition lies in the geographical location of the deposits. According to Pérez, the mining sites are situated where the El Mulito River originates. As the only source of clean, fresh water for the local population, the river’s contamination or depletion would represent a critical setback for the province’s sustainability.
“The exploitation of rare earths would be a major reversal for the tourism development and sustainability of our province. Without water, there is no development,” Perez argues.
Economic context and historical precedent
Perez drew a bleak parallel to previous extractive industries in the region, noting that bauxite mining in Cabo Rojo failed to yield tangible socio-economic benefits for the residents. Instead, he argued, it deepened the poverty levels in this southern frontier province bordering Haiti.
The legislator emphasized that the José Francisco Peña Gomez district is currently positioned as an ecotourism destination, characterized by its mountain ranges and temperate climate. He noted that a “firm position” has been taken by the local productive community, which aims to supply the agricultural goods required by the thousands of tourists expected to arrive once the major hotel infrastructure projects in the area are completed.
Project background
The controversy stems from the identification of significant REE deposits, a group of 17 elements essential for high-tech manufacturing, within the areas of Ávila and Loma las Mercedes in the Sierra de Bahoruco.
Government-led exploration efforts reportedly have intensified throughout 2025 following promising technical data:
• Exploration scale: Over 1,100 boreholes have been drilled to date.
• Validation: Sample analyses processed in Canadian laboratories indicate high commercial potential.
• Supervision: The project remains under intense government oversight as officials weigh the strategic value of these minerals against local environmental concerns.
Former Minister of Tourism Francisco Javier Garcia has stated that rare earth mining in Pedernales is not compatible with the government’s billion-peso efforts to develop the area into a leading tourism destination.
12 May 2026