The Costa Rican government, headed by the Minister of the Presidency, Laura Fernandez, has submitted to the Legislative Assembly a bill that would allow mining in Crucitas, in the district of Cutris, San Carlos. This plan aims to regulate mining activities in the area and prevent environmental damage, as well as gold theft by third parties.

An environmental and security crisis has plagued the area for many years, and it is crucial to address the situation. Specifically, the proposed law regulates open-pit mining in Crucitas and does not authorize mining activities at the national level.

Laura Fernández

Competitive Auction for Mining Rights

The core of the proposal is based on a bottom-up competitive auction model, where the starting point would be a minimum rate per ounce of gold. This strategy seeks to maximize the economic benefits for the country. By allowing both domestic and international bidders to participate, the government expects to obtain higher economic returns.

Crucitas Mining
Crucitas Mining
4/9/2017. Crucitas San Carlos. An invasion occurs in the Botija hill located in the Vivoyet farm, formerly owned by Industrias Infinito. Hundreds of coligalleros are grouped on the edge of the farm making camps, these make groups to work as a team and make more efficient the work of removing the material from the mine. The coligalleros complain about the abuse by the public forces, while at the same time they feel they have the right to exploit the mineral resources of the area. In the photo Nicolas Álvarez. Photo Adrián Soto.

Fernández emphasized that the country cannot continue to allow the theft of gold, which is a resource belonging to all Costa Ricans. With this legal framework, a minimum rate per ounce of gold would be established, which would serve as the basis for the auction. This approach not only seeks to protect natural resources, but also to ensure that the economic benefits stay in Costa Rica.

Environmental Protection & Safety

Minister of the Environment, Franz Tattenbach, supported the project and assured that the initiative has been developed with the support of experts in geology and mining. The objective is to ensure that mining operations are carried out in an orderly manner that respects the specific characteristics of the region.

Attention was also drawn to the seriousness of the situation in Crucitas, where organized crime, equipped with high caliber weapons, has posed a significant threat to local security forces. The government seeks to curb this problem through effective regulation of mining.

Inter-institutional Collaboration

Also attending the meeting to present the law were Manuel Tovar, representative of Comex, Foreign Minister Arnoldo André Tinoco, and officials from the Ministry of Security. The government is committed to working in an inter-institutional manner to ensure that the country’s resources are properly used and that the looting of gold at Crucitas is stopped.

This project represents an effort by the Costa Rican government to address a crisis that has affected the Crucitas region for years, seeking a balance between resource development and environmental and social protection. If approved, it would mark an important change in the management of the country’s mining resources.

Sensorial Susents