Decree 151 on mining policy arrived with a challenge of greater investment and criticism from environmentalists

President Lasso launched a proposal for private construction of a mineral refiner. Yesterday environmentalists rejected government mining policy

growth was in the order of 20% in dollars and 8% in volume, compared to 2020. Until December, this segment managed to place $18,091 million in different destinations worldwide.President of the Republic, Guillermo Lasso, has launched a challenge to the mining sector,for themInvestments of this industry are much greater in its four years of government. Lasso said, in an interview on the platform4pelagatos,that during his last meeting with the mining sector they told him thatwould make an investment of $ 2.5 billionin four years. However, for the president,This amount "is not enough."

In this sense, I had proposed that they bet on higher goals. For example, in theInvestment in a mineral refinery that might need about $ 2,000 million,But that would be very profitable. For Lasso, this proposal could be repairedin 15 years and could have international and multilateral bank financing.With this, you could also know more clearly how much Ecuador produces and exports in minerals. Lasso also indicated that in 2020 Ecuador managed to export $ 1 billion, and in 2021 he hopes to reach $ 1.6 billion in mineral exports.

According to the executive president of theMining Chamber of Ecuador, María Eulalia Silva, those $ 2.5 billion of investment that has been spoken do not represent all the investment of the mining industry, but it includes only the construction projects nearby, those that could enter production and the reactivation of Río Blanco.

About the possibility of buildingA refinery, explained that it is still premature to think about it, because with just two mines in production there would be enough material to refine.In any case, he commented that with or without refinery the benefit of the development of the mining industry is enormous, especially if the productive chain capacity generated by mining is taken into account.

In any case, The government is determined to give greater prominence to the mining sector. A few days ago he issued the Executive Decree 151, which speaks of an action plan of the mining sector for 100 days. This seeks, among other issues, to develop efficient, responsible mining, that implement the best practices in environmental and social.

Talk about guaranteeinglegal certainty, respect the titles,existing mining contracts and rights, as well as the execution of a strategy to eradicate the illegal exploitation of minerals. It also refers to the application of theConsultation Predicted and informedand strengthening the institutionality of control. In 60 days, he says, there must be an inter -institutional agreement between the Ministry of Energy and the Environment for aMore efficient emission of environmental and water permits.

SilvaHe stressed that the decreeIt gives visibility and legitimizes the industry as a key issue for the economic development of the country.In addition to establishing a road map with dates to meet various information tasks. Likewise, the decree gives green light to create a prior consultation law, which will clarify the ways to apply it in the corresponding populations.

Meanwhile, thePresident LassoHe has ratified thatThe pajonal, nor water sources, are not going to be touched,because the country points to sustainable mining. He assured that all the issues are discussed with the presence of the Minister of the Environment to be sustainable, ecologically speaking. The president confirmed that every fifteen days he will meet with private representatives of both the mining, oil and electricity sector."There is technology that can allow extractivism with the conservation of the environment," he said.

However, the issue has arousedA series of concerns in the environmental sector.Last Thursday, at a press conference,Ecological Action and the Caminantes collective referred both to the mining and oil policy of the government, in an event called “100 days to dismantle the country with decrees 95 and 151”. Carlos Zorrilla,Member of the Caminantes collective, said that what the decree seeks is to accelerate the mineral mining activity:"The level of bias in favor of the industry is embarrassed". He regretted that in the next 100 days the government is willing to campaign in favor of mining on alleged benefits, and indicate that it is sustainable.

For Zorrilla,There is no sustainable mining, "that is an oxymoron,"said. He criticized that you want to simplify procedures for mining activity, among those the approval of environmental impact studies, issuance of environmental licenses. For the environmentalist, companies benefit to the detriment of rural, indigenous communities and the rights of nature. In addition, he said that since the time of President Rafael Correa, at least 37 tax incentives for the industry were created, which reduces the profits to the treasury.

On this particular subject,Silva replied that the law sends that the State cannot receive less benefits than those of the industry.Thus has generated important income in taxes, patents, royalties and the sovereign adjustment. He added that the year 2020, only two mines have been paid $ 430 million, and so far from January to May $ 420 million have been canceled. He confirmed that after the useful life of the mines, the company in charge is responsible for the closure and postcore of the mine, which implies restoring and revegeting the territories.