Protesters stop talks for large gold mine south of Cuenca; Mayor criticizes ‘government intimidation’

Ecuador’s Mining Ministry is accusing anti-mining protesters of disrupting negotiations for a large-scale gold and silver mine in Azuay Province. The ministry claims a small group of activists is preventing the ministry and officials from Dundee Precious Metals from continuing a “peaceful and productive consultation” with residents in Victoria del Portete, near the proposed Loma Larga mine site.

Cuenca Mayor Cristian Zamora questioned the large number of police and soldiers assigned to anti-mining protests in Victoria del Portete, calling it government intimidation.

Lauro Sigcha, leader of farmers in the southern Tarqui Valley, south of Cuenca, says the protests will continue, claiming the proposed consultation is being controlled by the government and Dundee mine owners. “Our mobilization is conducted in defense of our land and natural resources, especially water,” he said. He added that Cuenca voters overwhelmingly opposed mining in a 2020 referendum.

Sigcha was joined by Cuenca Mayor Cristian Zamora in questioning the large number of police and military personnel assigned to the protest. “This is a clear case of government intimidation of a peaceful protest,” Zamora said. “The residents of Victoria del Portete have a legitimate concern for their health and livelihoods.”

In a statement, the Mining Ministry said that “political actors with opposing interests are undermining the spirit of constructive and transparent dialogue about the project.” The private Ecuador Mining Chamber called on the government to continue the consultation process and disband the protest if necessary.

The mining chamber also criticized the “entry of election politics” into negotiations. Three presidential candidates have pledged to stop all mining in the Cuenca canton if they are elected.

In a 2020 referendum, 80% of Cuenca voters supported prohibiting mining in the canton that affected water sources and water quality. Later that year, the provincial court rejected a challenge by the mining chamber that mining decisions should not be subject to popular vote.

Azuay province is home to several potentially lucrative gold, silver and copper projects, including Loma Larga and the Rio Blanco mine, owned by a Chinese consortium. Rio Blanco was shut down by protests in 2018 and has not reopened. The province is said to contain some of the richest gold and silver deposits in South America.