La Libertad

Project Phase / Fase del proyecto:

La Libertad is a gold mine purchased by Canadian corporation, Calibre Mining, from B2Gold in 2019. It is in production at the different sites of the mining complex which is spread over 10,000 ha. in and around the community of Santo Domingo. The mining company is exploring various other locations within the concession to extend exploitation. It is 110 km east of Managua. La Libertad Mine has a long history of exploration and exploitation of mining concessions, dating back to 1862, along with a history of small scale and artisanal production. The dates provided in this database focus on B2Gold Corp.'s operations. For more information regarding the mine's historical ownership and production, see the Technical Report prepared by Gustavson Associates for B2Gold Corp., dated 27 March 2015 (full reference below). Note, La Libertad Mine was known as the Orosi Mine between 2007 and 2009.

Exploration Start Date / Fecha de inicio de la exploración:

2009 (B2Gold Corp.)

Exploitation Start Date / Fecha de inicio de la explotación:

2012 (Jabali Central, B2Gold Corp.)

Extraction Type / Método de extracción:

Open pit

Subterranean

Country / País:

Nicaragua

Company / Empresa:

Parent Company: Central Sun Mining Inc. (formerly Glencairn Gold Corporation) (Canada): (2006-2009)

Parent Company: B2Gold Corp. (Canada): (2009-2019)

Parent Company: Calibre Mining Corp. (Canada): (2019- )

Subsidiary: Desarrollo Minero de Nicaragua S.A. (DESMINIC S.A.)

Natural Resource / Recurso natural:

Gold

Municipality, Department / Municipio, Departamento:

La Libertad and Santo Domingo, Chontales

Region / Región:

Central America

Legal Actions / Acciones Legales:

1997-2017 Nicaraguan Mining and related Laws

2009 Latin American Water Tribunal holds Forum on Open Pit Mining

2010 Administrative Complaint filed by the Units of Environmental Management (UGA) from six municipalities

2012 Administrative Complaint by Artisanal Miners against B2Gold

2012 Administrative complaint filed by Save Santo Domingo Environmental Movement (MASSD)

2013 Citizens Complaint regarding B2Gold/DESMINIC violation of Legal and Environmental Regulations

2013 Criminalization of Protests and Mining Opposition Movements

2015 Administrative Complaint filed by Affected Community Residents against B2Gold

2015- Citizen Development of Mining Legislation Draft

2017 IACHR Hearing on Access to Public Information relating to Extractive Projects

2018 Community condemns Company-led “Consultation Processes”

Political Actions / Acciones Políticas:

2008 Residents of Santo Domingo begin to mobilize against industrial mining

2012 Protest encampment established to block mining operations

2013 Save Santo Domingo (MASSD) holds large demonstration in Santo Domingo

2013 Demonstrations at the Judicial Complex in Juigalpa for release of detained protestors

2013 Nicaraguan Government Delegation attends PDAC in Canada

2014 Small scale miners protest in Santo Domingo

2013-2017 Humboldt Centre tests water in Santo Domingo to research industrial mining

2015 Humboldt Centre presents study at National Forum on Mining in Nicaragua

2017 Creation of the National Movement against Industrial Mining

2017 Civil Society Organizations send letter to IACHR in advance of hearing on Transparency and Access to Public Information

2017 Forum on State Owned Mining Companies

2017 Environmental Organizations in Chontales adopt the Environmental Ten Commandments on Water and Life

Humboldt Centre builds international and regional coalitions

2018 Santo Domingo residents protest against the presence of B2Gold in their community

2018 Humboldt Centre launches campaign called "Mining: Benefits for Whom?"

2018 Protest against mining in Chontales in remembrance of previous repression

2020 Local council demands review of environmental commitments on La Libertad mine

Reports / Informes:

2012 The Actual State of Metallic and Non-Metallic Mining in Nicaragua (2009-2011) (Spanish)

2012 National Human Development Plan (2012-2016) (Spanish)

2013 The Myths and Reality of Gold Mining in Central America

2014 The Actual State of Mining and its Socio-environmental impacts in Nicaragua (2012-2013) (Spanish)

2015 Evaluation of the Socio-Environmental Risks and Impacts of Metallic Mining in Nicaragua (2013-2015) (Spanish)

2015 NI 43-101 Technical Report La Libertad Mine La Libertad Region, Nicaragua

2016 The 'Canada Brand': Violence and Canadian Mining Companies in Latin America

2017 Industrial Mining in Nicaragua: A Tax Perspective (Spanish)

2017 Access to Information and Human Rights in the Extractive Industry: The Cases of Nicaragua, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic (Spanish)

2019 Socio-environmental evaluation of Metallic mining activity in Nicaragua 2015-2019 (Spanish)

2020 The State of Mining in Nicaragua

References / Referencias:

ACAFREMIN, “Habitantes de Santo Domingo-Chontales rechazan nuevo proyecto de minería industrial”, dated 16 January 2018, online: https://www.acafremin.org/es/noticias-regionales/nicaragua/196-habitantes-de-santo-domingo-chontales-rechazan-nuevo-proyecto-de-mineria-industrial, accessed 17 December 2020.

B2Gold Corp., “B2Gold Corp. Management’s Discussion and Analysis for the quarter ended September 30, 2020”, dated 4 December 2020, online: https://fintel.io/doc/sec-b2gold-corp-ex992-2020-november-03-18570-977, accessed 10 December 2020.

Calibre Mining Corp., “Calibre Mining Recommences Blasting and Mining Activities at its Jabalí Underground Mine, Part of the Libertad Complex”, dated 5 August 2020, online: https://www.calibremining.com/news/calibre-mining-recommences-blasting-and-mining-act-1745/, accessed 10 December 2020.

Environmental Justice Atlas (EJAtlas), “Libertad mining project, Chontales, Nicaragua”, online: https://ejatlas.org/conflict/santo-domingo-mining-project-nicaragua, accessed 10 December 2020.

Gustavson Associates, “NI 43-101 Technical Report La Libertad Mine, La Libertad Region, Nicaragua”, dated 27 March 2015, online: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1429937/000106299315001607/exhibit99-1.htm, accessed 10 December 2020.

Observatorio de Conflictos Mineros de América Latina (OCMAL), “Ficha de Registro Impactos Negativos de la minería en Centroamérica: Mina Orosi”, online: https://www.ocmal.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Impactos_Orosi_Nicaragua.pdf, accessed 10 December 2020.

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