The bill would see the prohibition of granting concessions for the exploration and exploitation of metallic and nonmetallic minerals in Ngäbe Bugle. Only those extractions that benefit the region would be authorized.
Among the permissions to be eliminated would be the extraction of gravel from the river and searching for gold and other metals.
"This will not compromise the state’s right to mine on the Cerro Colorado site, one of the largest copper deposits in the world - with state-owned Corporación de Desarrollo Minero de Cerro Colorado (Codemin), created by Law 41 in 1975.
In January, president Ricardo Martinelli said that Codemin, in partnership with another company, wishes to issue a tender for the exploitation of the site, and 14 multinational companies have expressed interest in the project”, reported Prensa.com.
The Panamanian Chamber of Mining has shown its disapproval concerning the draft bill, as it does not believe this is the best way to solve the region’s problems. Its president Roberto Cuevas added, "The irony is that this is the very region in which most of the mineral resources belonging to the Panamanian public are to be found."
Source: Prensa.com
More on this topic
January 2012
The Assembly of Panama has approved, in its first reading, Bill 415 on environmental protection, without the article which eliminates existing mining concessions.
Panama's National Assembly approved on first reading Bill 415 which is related to the special protection of water, environmental and mineral resources in Cerro Colorado, with the omission of Article 5, which would have eliminated existing mining concessions and forced the companies operating there to suspend work.
February 2011
The Panamanian National Assembly approved bill number 277 which amends the Mineral Resources Code.
The proposal, which was approved in first and second debate, was adopted with 42 votes in favor, 15 against and no abstentions and it adjusts fees and royalties to be paid for mineral concessions, which will increase to 5%.
February 2012
Indigenous groups, the government and ministers have come to a consensus to ban mining, and will discuss the issue of hydropower stations within the Ngäbes Bugle territory.
Representatives of the indigenous Ngäbes Bugle tribe, ministers and government officials agreed to discuss Bill 415, which was approved in the first instance last week, with the exclusion of Article 5.
March 2012
Panama's National Assembly have given final approval to law 415 which prohibits mining and protects water and environmental resources in the Ngäbe Bugle region.
A statement by the National Assembly of Panama reads:
By executive sanction Bill 415 amends the Mining Code.
Indians have rights to natural resources in Ngäbe – Bugle Region.
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