Despite receiving an exploitation licence in 2007, the Cerro Blanco project faced repeated technical and engineering difficulties preventing production. In 2013 Goldcorp suspended mining operations at the Cerro Blanco site. In 2017, Bluestone Resources Inc. purchased the mine, undertaking new feasibility studies and engineering work. In 2021, it published a new feasibility study proposing a change from subterranean toContinue reading “Cerro Blanco”
Subsoil Municipality Archives
2007 Community files legal opposition to Environmental Impact Assessment
On 17 May 2007, Colectivo Madreselva and members of Asunción Mita municipality (Jutiapa Department) filed their opposition to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) presented by Goldcorp to the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MARN). The same EIA had been presented to and rejected by MARN officials in 2004 and 2005. However, the team responsibleContinue reading “2007 Community files legal opposition to Environmental Impact Assessment”
2019 Meeting in Congress to question government officials on Cerro Blanco
In December 2019, a Guatemalan congressman convened a working meeting in the Guatemalan Congress to formally question the Ministries of Energy and Mines, Environment and Natural Resources, and Health regarding the health and environmental impacts of the Cerro Blanco mine and Bluestone Resources’ plans to reactivate the project. The meeting was convened in accordance withContinue reading “2019 Meeting in Congress to question government officials on Cerro Blanco”
2015-2016 Constitutional challenge to Cerro Blanco exploitation licence
In November 2015, a resident of the municipality of Asunción Mita (Department of Jutiapa, Guatemala), filed a petition to the Guatemalan Supreme Court for constitutional protection (amparo) against the Minister of Energy and Mines for failure to terminate the Cerro Blanco exploitation licence in accordance with the Mining Law. The petition was supported by Colectivo MadreselvaContinue reading “2015-2016 Constitutional challenge to Cerro Blanco exploitation licence”
2018- Human Rights Ombudspersons of El Salvador and Guatemala coordinate actions on transborder impacts
In November 2018, El Salvador’s and Guatemala’s Human Rights Ombudspersons signed a letter of agreement on joint action on the project, “Strengthening the capacities of the personnel of the human rights institutions of El Salvador and Guatemala in relation to Business and Human Rights”. The project was supported and financed by the Danish Institute ofContinue reading “2018- Human Rights Ombudspersons of El Salvador and Guatemala coordinate actions on transborder impacts”
2014- Citizen Transborder Treaty Drafting [Cerro Blanco]
For Salvadoran NGOs involved in the Mesa Nacional frente a la Minería Metálica (National Roundtable against Metallic Mining), the regulation of transborder water resources in Central America has been an issue for many years. Their concerns emerged out of the discovery that both Guatemala and Honduras have received requests for exploration and exploitation of mineralsContinue reading “2014- Citizen Transborder Treaty Drafting [Cerro Blanco]”
2010 Ethics Tribunal on Border Mining [Cerro Blanco]
In November 2010, the first annual Ethics Tribunal was convened on the topic of Border Mining in Latin America. The Tribunal was held in Santiago, Chile, with a panel of judges drawn from leading individuals in the areas of human rights, trade unions, pastoral work, environmental defense, and indigenous rights. Organizers, including the Latin AmericanContinue reading “2010 Ethics Tribunal on Border Mining [Cerro Blanco]”
2012 IACHR hearing on the Human Rights of People Affected by Metallic Mining in El Salvador
On 4 November 2012, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) held a hearing on the Human Rights of People Affected by Metallic Mining in El Salvador. The hearing was part of the Commission’s 146th Regular Period of Sessions, and held at the request of El Salvador’s Ombudsperson for the Defence of Human Rights (PDDH).Continue reading “2012 IACHR hearing on the Human Rights of People Affected by Metallic Mining in El Salvador”
1997-2015 Guatemalan Mining Laws and Amendments [Cerro Blanco]
The mining industry in Guatemala is governed by, among other things, the General Mining Law. This law was initially passed in 1997, following a peace process that ended the 1960-1996 internal conflict. It was criticized by some Guatemalan civil society and legal groups for creating a low royalty rate of 1% and failing to establishContinue reading “1997-2015 Guatemalan Mining Laws and Amendments [Cerro Blanco]”
2008-2013 Constitutional Challenges against Guatemalan Mining Laws [Cerro Blanco]
On 19 June 2008, the Constitutional Court of Guatemala declared seven provisions of the 1997 Mining Law unconstitutional based on a failure to comply with Guatemala’s environmental laws. In particular, the court agreed with the Centre for Environmental and Socio-Legal Action (CALAS) that the following aspects of the Mining Law breached the state’s obligation toContinue reading “2008-2013 Constitutional Challenges against Guatemalan Mining Laws [Cerro Blanco]”
