The Medina administration is expediting the issuing of permits for mining explorations and concessions in the Dominican Republic. A report in Hoy newspaper today, Wednesday 4 September indicates the location of several of the key mining exploration concessions. The report indicates that the Department of Mining had granted 141 concessions for exploration through July 2013. It says that Inex (Ingenieria y Exploracion, an affiliate of Gold Quest) had received the largest number of permits to explore for gold and copper in the hills of San Juan de la Maguana, better known as a farming province. Permits have been granted for limestone mining in San Rafael de Yuma (La Altagracia), Monte Plata and Sabana Grande de Boya.
Hoy reports that 13 companies have received concessions for mining exploration from 13 to 18 July 2013. They are Alpha Omega Mineria Dominicana, Linea Gold Caribe, Millenium Mining RD, Hugo Silvio Dominguez Despradel (San Jose de las Matas), Inex (Juan de Herrera, Pedro Santana, San Juan de la Maguana, Jarabacoa), Corporacion Minera Dominicana (Bayaguana), Unigold Resources (Restauracion), and Everton Minera Dominicana (Monte Plata).
In July 2013, the Medina administration created the Ministry of Energy and Mines to handle mining and electricity issues.
In May 2013, United Nations Development Program experts recommended against gold mining in Loma Miranda in La Vega, the UNDP representative in the DR at the time, Valerie Julliand urged the nation to look into the real desirability of further mining operations in the country. In the review of the Loma de Miranda mining concession, the UNDP confirmed the negative track record of mining companies in the DR. The UNDP said the country needed to discuss the advisability of promoting mining as a priority, in view of its environmental and social impact. Mining operations have proven to be lethal to water sources, health and farming, with a surge of large numbers of people affected by life-threatening diseases in the Cotui and Bonao areas where long-time major mining operations are based.
www.hoy.com.do/el-pais/2013/9/3/496945/Minera-canadiense-explora-Dajabon-en-busca-de-oro
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