El Salvador’s government has lifted a 2017 ban on industrial mining, granting itself majority control over projects despite environmental and public health concerns.
Maxwell Radwin reports for Mongabay.
In short:
- Lawmakers approved the new mining law with 57 votes, giving the government at least 51% control of mining projects, including oversight responsibilities.
- President Nayib Bukele claims the law will boost the economy by tapping gold reserves worth over $1.3 billion, though critics fear water contamination and environmental harm.
- Environmental groups warn that the Lempa River, which supplies 60% of the country’s water, could be threatened by mining chemicals like cyanide.
Key quote:
“It’s an absolutely disastrous decision. [The mining ban] was established after years of struggle, but also because it was technically and scientifically proven that mining is an unviable activity in Salvadoran territory due to the environmental, water and population conditions.”
— Luis González, advocacy director of the NGO Salvadoran Ecological Unit
Why this matters:
El Salvador’s only major watershed is at risk from pollution tied to mining activities, raising concerns over future water shortages and public health impacts. With widespread opposition and fragile ecosystems at stake, the debate may escalate as projects begin.
Related: El Salvador's environmental struggle intensifies with mining concerns
