Mexico’s Boleo mine secures community backing

The majority of residents around the Boleo primary copper mine in Mexico’s Baja California Sur state who participated in a vote expressed support for operator MMB (Minera y Metalúrgica del Boleo).

Residents in the Mulegé, San Bruno, San Ignacio and Santa Rosalía settlements were polled on their views of MMB.

Of the 2,481 views presented, 89% were positive, local trade website Mineriaenlinea reported.

The vote is part of a revision of the Boleo mine’s environmental permit, being conducted by environment ministry Semarnat.

MMB, a subsidiary of state-run Korea Resources (Kores), is applying to mine in 446ha of land within its Boleo concessions, in order the extend the life of its operations, which produce copper, cobalt and zinc.

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) sparked fears over job losses after stating in April that the application to extend mining operations at Boleo had been rejected.

Semarnat later said no decision had been taken.

A string of mining permit applications have been rejected by Semarnat amid an apparent ban on new open pit operations.

Kores plans to sell most overseas mining operations over the next few years, Moody’s said in March.