Adventus and Salazar obtain permit to begin construction of US$250mn Ecuador mine

Canadian companies Adventus Mining and Salazar Resources obtained the environmental permit that will allow them to begin construction of the US$250mn Curipamba (El Domo) gold and silver asset in central Ecuador.

“The granting of the environmental license is the culmination of 17 years of diligent effort beginning with exploration in 2007, which led to the discovery of the deposit,” Adventus CEO Christian Kargl-Simard said in a statement.

Freddy David Salazar, manager of corporate development at Salazar Resources, told BNamericas that construction will not begin immediately because the rainy season has started and is expected to end in May.

“The issuance of the license is a very positive step as it should open a new stage for mining in Ecuador and open the door for other projects that are on the agenda, despite the problems that always exist with every project in any country,” he said.

The environmental permitting process began in November 2021 with the presentation of the environmental and social report for the mine, which is located around 150km northeast of Guayaquil.

In December 2023, the environment ministry concluded the consultation process, which began in July and is a requirement for the permit.

The companies said that approval from 98% of the communities in the area of direct influence was obtained during this process, which involved a community vote in favor of the environmental certificate.

Opposition from anti-mining activists led to delays in granting the permit and the start of construction, which was initially scheduled for the end of 2022.

Curipamba is set to become Ecuador's third industrial-scale mine in production, adding to the Fruta del Norte gold asset and the Mirador copper mine.