Mining in Colombia: The Reality

“Colombia has begun to join a group of select countries recognized for their mining potential. Nevertheless it is clear that mining potential has been under—explored and under—developed when viewed in relative terms in the Latin American context.”

See Logbook Number 25, Fedesarrollo. Cárdenas Mauricio, Reina, Mauricio, April 2008. “La minería en Colombia: Impacto socioeconómico y fiscal” (“Mining in Colombia: the socio—economic and economic impact”) p.22

This sector satisfies all the conditions necessary to be competitive, but it must face institutional, business, and academic, challenges. These include developing strategic environmental evaluations, improving the performance of small—and—medium scale mining nationally, contributing the technical and technological professionals necessary for growth in the mining industry, and respecting human rights issues as well as working towards environmental ethics that guarantee clean production with high safety, environmental, and occupational health, standards.

Furthermore, among these challenges, the Colombian Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) has made it its priority to provide the highest level of clarity in its proceedings and to improve aspects of competitiveness by optimizing regional geological knowledge and understanding, while attempting, in the shortest possible time, to deal with territorial sustainability due to growth of mining activity. These challenges have become the driving force behind new strategies created by the MME, with the collaboration of other entities, to make Colombia attractive in terms of mined materials.

For this reason, the MME is leading the process of inter—institutional reinforcement necessary to reach these goals. In order to demonstrate projects and to learn about other successful models, the MME has taken part in national and international events such as workshops, certifications, conferences, conventions, fairs and congresses. The following are some examples of these.

Conventions, Fairs and Congresses

National Events

Source: MME & Ingeominas

International Events

Source: MME & Ingeominas

In 2007 three two—and—a—half—day workshops were undertaken, called within the framework of agreement between the MME and CEPAL. The idea was to strengthen the topic of sustainable development and was a matter of interest to mining authorities as much as to the Ministry of Environment, Housing and Regional Development (MAVDT) and to all autonomous regional corporations. Also in attendance were international conference delegates, including: Jeanett Larde and Eduardo Chaparro A. (CEPAL), César Polo (Robillard), Cristian Moscoso (Professor of the University of ChileÕs Program for Mineral Economy), Nivaldo Rojas (Rojas & Asociados, mining consultants), Thomas Letelier (Barrick), Sen Renner (BGR Germany), Alfonso Monge Ureña (independent consultant) and Fernando Crisosto (Public Relations Manager, Antofagasta Minerals).

Another important step has been the launch of the “Government—Industry Agenda”, whose aim is to promote dialogue and find solutions regarding problems involving the mining industry and the government agencies with which they deal. To date, there have been three meetings, two of which were dedicated to the subject of the environment. These have seen the attendance of the MME, the Ministry of Environment, Housing and Regional Development, trade unions and mining entrepreneurs.

The MME is promoting Colombia as a mining country in the hope that mining investors visit the country to look at the possibilities first hand. Such investors may include: Anglogold Ashanti, Votarantim, Arcelor Mittal, Barrick, , Companhia Vale do Rio Doce, Rio Tinto,Mitsui, B2gold, Greystar Resources, Ham & Asociados S.A.C., Jco International Co., Ltd, Salazar Resources Ltd, Colombia Goldfields, Antioquia Gold, Inc, Bellhaven Cooper & Gold Inc, Continental Gold Ltd, Alpaca Resources Inc, Kores Resources Corporation, , Ecuagold Resources Ltd, Ascendant Copper Corporation (to name but a few.)

Mining in Colombia, therefore, is a reality and it must take up the challenge. Investors, the community, government officials in the mining sector, and other similar institutions alike are adopting new methodologies, campaigns and strategies to face these challenges to the mining industry today.