El Salvador has made significant strides toward resuming metallic mining with the recent approval of new legislation by the Legislative Assembly. This pivotal decision marks the end of the country's seven-year ban on mining metals, raising both hope and concern among different sectors of the population.
The General Assembly, which is dominated by President Nayib Bukele's party, Nuevas Ideas, passed the new mining law on December 23, 2024, with a decisive vote of 57 to 3. This law is expected to change the economic dynamics of the nation significantly by allowing gold extraction, which President Bukele claims could tap the country’s estimated $3 trillion worth of gold reserves.
At the core of Bukele's advocacy for this law is the belief it could transform El Salvador's economic standing, providing much-needed improvements to the quality of life for its citizens. "It is imperative the state make rational use of the wealth available...to improve the quality of life...while respecting the environment," Bukele noted, presenting the new legislation as both economically beneficial and environmentally considerate.
Yet, this legislation has not been without considerable backlash. Concerns about the potential environmental impact of resuming mining activities were amplified by various civic groups and the Roman Catholic Church. Archbishop Jos Luis Escobar Alas openly criticized the decision, stating during a homily, "It will damage this country forever." His words echoed the sentiments of many environmentalists and activists who fear the impact on the nation’s natural resources.
Adalberto Blanco, of the Permanent Roundtable on Risk Management, expressed anger over the timing of the bill's proclamation, saying, "They are giving us a gift, on Dec. 23, 2024, of pollution for our water, our land." Protests against the mining law have gathered momentum, with demonstrators asserting their opposition and demanding reconsideration of the legislative action.
Public sentiment and skepticism seem to run high as well. A recent poll conducted by Central America’s José Simeón Cañas Central American University revealed most Salvadorans believing mining could be unsuitable for the country. Critics also raised doubts about Bukele's claims of vast gold reserves. Pedro Cabezas, coordinator of Acafremin, pointedly remarked, "Knowing the president’s announcements, we would not be surprised if he exaggerates the numbers." This skepticism feeds concerns about the motivations behind the new law.
The new legislation not only permits mining throughout the nation, except within designated nature reserves and sensitive watersheds, but also mandates joint ventures between private companies and the government for new mining operations. Strikingly, the use of mercury—a toxic substance often employed in gold mining—has been banned, which advocates see as progress. Bukele has invited foreign geologists to assess the viability of El Salvador's gold deposits and oversee extraction efforts.
Despite the government's reassurances about environmental protections, leading environmentalists like Andrew McKinley warn of the potential hazards of unregulated mining. McKinley noted, "We can’t be excited about it. We have to be cautious, our land can’t take it anymore." His sentiment reflects the fears shared by many civil society organizations concerned about the balance between economic development and environmental preservation.
With the approval of this mining law, El Salvador is at a crossroads. While there is potential for economic growth through gold extraction, it also raises poignant questions about the ramifications for the environment and the voices of the citizens who oppose such choices. The coming months will be telling as the nation embarks on this new chapter of metallic mining and the long-lasting effects it might usher.
