Guatemala begins formal consultation at suspended nickel mine

Guatemala’s energy and mines ministry (MEM) confirmed the start of a formal consultation with indigenous communities around Solway Investment Group’s suspended Fénix nickel mine.

Operations at Fénix were halted following an injunction by local NGO Calas, which said indigenous communities were not consulted in the award of a mining license by the MEM.

Guatemala’s constitutional court has ruled that a consultation, along ILO (International Labour Organization) convention 169 rules, be completed before the license can be reinstated.

The first consultation meeting, with local Maya Q’eqchi’ communities in the El Estor (Izabal department) and Panzós (Alta Verapaz) municipalities, took place on November 12 and was attended by representatives of the 31 groups participating in the consultation process.

A preliminary stage of the consultation concluded earlier in November.

Guatemala last month imposed a state of siege in El Estor, aimed at putting a stop to anti-mining protests related to Fénix.

The country’s other main mines, Pan American Silver’s Escobal silver-lead-zinc asset and Kappes, Cassiday & Associates’ Tambor gold mine, have also been suspended following similar injunction requests by Calas.

A consultation is underway with communities around Escobal, which has been suspended since 2017.