Minister of the Environment: “The Dominican Republic must define its mining policy”

In the face of periodic discussions with voices in favor and against mining exploitation, the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Paíno Henríquez, said that the Dominican Republic must decide what its mining policy will be in general and the use of mining resources.

“Let the Dominican Republic decide what we are going to do with mining in the future in a general sense, periodically we have discussions with the mining issue in favor of some, others against, but we have to define as a country as a public policy whether we are going to take advantage of mining resources or not,” Henríquez said.

The minister said that this is a discussion that escapes beyond the Ministries of Environment and Energy and Mines.

Henríquez was the guest at the Weekly Lunch of the Corripio Communications Group, where he was accompanied by Ana Emilia Pimentel, Vice Minister of Climate Change and Sustainability, General Ángel Camacho Ubiera, director of the National Environmental Protection Service (SENPA), Rayne Paulino, administrative and financial coordinator and Juan Pichardo, Director of Communications.

Rare Earths

The minister offered this answer when questioned about the convenience of the exploitation of rare earths in the Sierra de Bahoruco. Specifically, he said that he did not have the tools to say whether or not this exploitation is convenient for the country, since the ministry he directs has not received any request.

He added that the explorations that are currently being done there are to take samples that are then analyzed outside the country. “That is the only thing that has been authorized and they do not have any type of impact because they are rocks of a fairly small diameter.”

Henríquez did not specify which part of the Sierra de Bahoruco National Park is within the Ávila Fiscal Reserve, declared in 2018 with the interest of a possible use of rare earth minerals.

Gold in San Juan

Regarding Goldquest’s project that seeks to exploit gold in the province of San Juan, he reported that the request made by that mining company on the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the realization of the Environmental Impact Study (EIA) that would determine the viability or not of the exploitation is still under evaluation.

In relation to the refusal of some sectors of the province to carry out the EIA, he said that the idea is that it be carried out and discussed because that gives greater transparency. “This ministry is going to face and assume it with the necessary responsibility and transparency,” he said in this regard.

Henríquez also favored the modification of the Mining Law that currently contemplates the exploitation permit prior to the EIA.

“Work is being done on that because it is even a matter of legal certainty because how can you give a definitive license to a project that has not been previously environmentally evaluated,” he questioned.

However, he clarified that the Ministry of the Environment can do so beforehand so that the President of the Republic has the information before granting an operating license.

Barrick Gold

Regarding the gold mining operation in Cotuí by the company Barrick Gold, Henríquez assured that monitoring is carried out every six months and that no elements of contamination have been identified so far.

Regarding the construction of the tailings dam, he said that the Environment Ministry had delivered an impact study on the flora and authorized the construction of a housing project for more than 500 homes.

Pomier Caves

Another concern to the population is the destruction of the “Cuevas del Pomier” Reserves in San Cristóbal, where limestone mining has considerably affected this protected area.

In this regard, Henríquez recalled that this problem has been going on for several decades, with conflicts over mining concessions prior to the declaration of the protected area and other illegal ones. He indicated that on February 27th, President Luis Abinader will offer a definitive decision.

Cliffs

Regarding the destruction of the Farrallones on Ecological Avenue in Santo Domingo Este, he reported that 19 homes have been removed, and some cases will be taken to court for processing since there are people who have property titles in that protected area and authorizations for land use that must be investigated.