Guatemala to finish Escobal consultation ‘in the coming months’

Guatemalan authorities expect to complete a court-ordered consultation at Pan American Silver’s Escobal mine within months, paving the way for a restart at the suspended operation.

Following the successful conclusion of a similar consultation with indigenous communities at Solway Investment Group’s Fénix nickel mine earlier this year, the energy and mines ministry (MEM) expects to conclude four further processes this year, including at Escobal, where the consultation is advancing satisfactorily, minister Alberto Pimentel was quoted as saying by government newsletter Central American Diary.

“We are sure that these processes are going to be successful, that they are going to conclude in the coming months,” he added.

Escobal, one of the region’s biggest silver producers, has been halted since 2017 due to a license suspension and road blockage.

In addition, the ministry aims to complete a consultation which could lead to a restart at Kappes, Cassiday & Associates’ (KCA) Tambor gold mine, also known as Progreso VII Derivada.

KCA is pursuing an arbitration claim over the Tambor suspension.

Consultations relating to a third mining project in Alta Verapaz department and an electric power project in Quiché are also due to conclude this year, the report said, without giving further details of the assets.

Tambor, Escobal and Fénix were all suspended following injunction requests by local NGO Calas, which argued that indigenous communities were not consulted by the MEM in the licensing process.

Indigenous communities are entitled to prior consultations on projects which could impact them under International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 169, to which Guatemala is a signatory.