Congress would be about to approve a project to prohibit mining in the Coffee Region

Mining in four departments of the country, more specifically, the Coffee Axis (Risaralda, Caldas, Quindío) and Valle del Cauca would be close to being banned by the Senate of the Republic.

And the legislative body has made progress in the discussion of the project, that seeks to protect the coffee cultural landscape. The initiative was filed by congressmen from different parties, including Inti Asprilla from the Green party and Julia Miranda from New Liberalism. The project is ready to be discussed in the final debate.

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However, From the mining sector it is reported that the prohibition of mining activity in this region may disadvantage themsince it serves as a strategic point for the extraction of minerals used later for the construction sector.

He president of the Colombian Mining Association (ACM), Juan Camilo Nariñosays that the project hides this intention of bordering mining activity with the environmental focus in which it is built.

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“This is one more of those things in which legislation is being made, an attempt is being made to prohibit mining in a part of the national territory and that in its discussion, debate and vote does not take into account the illegal legal basis of those measures. that they are taking in particular, this is a bill in which they shield something that we all want, which is to protect the Colombian coffee cultural landscape.”, he stated in a statement.

And, according to the union, the quarries necessary to extract construction materials and also the titles that have been previously granted, would be outside the restriction.

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Juan Camilo Nariño, president of the ACM

ACM

However, he adds that if the law is approved, all of them will have greater surveillance by the environmental authorities and the environmental licensing processes, which requires there to be participation “effective” of the communities.

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“Colombia needs minerals for the energy transition in terms of copper, gold, molybdenum and a large number of other minerals, the possibility and opportunities that would be generated in the future for the people of Caldens, for the people of Valle del Cauca, are restricted. for all the inhabitants of those departments going forward. The only thing that is also happening here is that every time a bill arises that restricts an activity like this, the only thing that is in the background is restricting and eliminating employment possibilities, professional development possibilities for many young people going forward.“, stated Nariño.

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