The landmark prohibition on mining in 2017, a world first, has been reversed by authoritarian leader Nayib Bukele but the move has met fierce resistance from environmentalists. On 23 December, congress voted to overturn the ban on metals mining, a move championed by the hardline president, Nayib Bukele, who is prioritising economic growth over environmental concerns.
The new legislation grants the government exclusive control over mining activities and prohibits the use of toxic mercury in gold extraction. However, despite the regulations, environmentalists have promised strong opposition, citing potential irreversible damage to ecosystems and public health. Other minerals released into the environment by gold-mining include arsenic, for instance.
Environmental pollution of watercourses is literally a matter of life and death for El Salvador. The Lempa is the country’s most significant river, supplying about 70% of drinking water for the San Salvador metropolitan area.
Cidia Cortes, an environmental biologist, says:
“In the San Sebastián River, arsenic levels are 300 times higher than international safety standards. Acid drainage turns the water a poisonous red, contaminating water, air and land.”
Cortes fears that industrial mining could have a devastating effect on El Salvador’s water. She says:
“The Lempa River could disappear as we know it. This river needs intensive care to survive agrochemicals, mining and stone extraction, as well as the four hydroelectric plants located within the watershed.”
