(1998-2006)
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 to open pit mining. In October 2021 it was preparing to submit a new Environmental Impact Assessment to obtain approval to redevelop and significantly expanded the project, aiming to be in production by 2024.
Legal Actions / Acciones Legales:
- 2007 Community files legal opposition to Environmental Impact Assessment
- 2019 Meeting in Congress to question government officials on Cerro Blanco
- 2015-2016 Constitutional challenge to Cerro Blanco exploitation licence
- 2018- Human Rights Ombudspersons of El Salvador and Guatemala coordinate actions on transborder impacts
- 2019 Salvadoran NGOs submit report to UN Universal Periodic Review
- 2014- Citizen Transborder Treaty Drafting [Cerro Blanco]
- 1997 Enactment of Treaty for the Execution of the Trifinio Plan
- 2010 Ethics Tribunal on Border Mining [Cerro Blanco]
- 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]
- 2016 Investigation by Human Rights Ombudsperson [Cerro Blanco]
- 2010 ILO Criticizes Guatemala on Mining and Indigenous Communities [Cerro Blanco]
- 2005- Community Consultation Processes [Cerro Blanco]
- 2008- Moratoriums on Metallic Mining [Cerro Blanco]
- 2013- IACHR Petition filed by Council of Mayan and Xinka Peoples [Cerro Blanco]
- 2011-2018 Constitutional Challenge of Draft Regulation on Indigenous Consultation Processes [Cerro Blanco]
- 2008-2013 Constitutional Challenges against Guatemalan Mining Laws [Cerro Blanco]
Operations suspended pending completion of consultations with affected Xinka indigenous communities, as per Constitutional Court decision released in September 2018.
Legal Actions / Acciones Legales:
- 2007 Community files legal opposition to Environmental Impact Assessment
- 2019 Meeting in Congress to question government officials on Cerro Blanco
- 2015-2016 Constitutional challenge to Cerro Blanco exploitation licence
- 2018- Human Rights Ombudspersons of El Salvador and Guatemala coordinate actions on transborder impacts
- 2019 Salvadoran NGOs submit report to UN Universal Periodic Review
- 2014- Citizen Transborder Treaty Drafting [Cerro Blanco]
- 1997 Enactment of Treaty for the Execution of the Trifinio Plan
- 2010 Ethics Tribunal on Border Mining [Cerro Blanco]
- 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]
- 2016 Investigation by Human Rights Ombudsperson [Cerro Blanco]
- 2010 ILO Criticizes Guatemala on Mining and Indigenous Communities [Cerro Blanco]
- 2005- Community Consultation Processes [Cerro Blanco]
- 2008- Moratoriums on Metallic Mining [Cerro Blanco]
- 2013- IACHR Petition filed by Council of Mayan and Xinka Peoples [Cerro Blanco]
- 2011-2018 Constitutional Challenge of Draft Regulation on Indigenous Consultation Processes [Cerro Blanco]
- 2008-2013 Constitutional Challenges against Guatemalan Mining Laws [Cerro Blanco]