Academy of Sciences rejects Xstratas’ Loma Miranda mine

Santo Domingo.- Dominican Republic Academy of Sciences said on Wednesday said it opposes the exploitation of Loma Miranda, affirming that the mining can contaminate all water sources in the area.

Academy of Sciences spokesman and ecologist Eleuterio Martinez said Loma Miranda’s runoff irrigates nearly 8,000 hectares of rice fields in the area.

He said the hill must be preserved because of what he affirms are unusual characteristics such as its location in the foothills of the Central Mountain Range, which acts as a buffer of the trade winds.

Residents at Loma Miranda’s surroundings have staged several protests against the exploitation for precious metals by Xstrata Falconbridge, even rejecting the possibility of getting a job when the Canada based miner starts operations.