The Guatemalan government has revoked an environmental license for a proposed open-pit mine near the border with El Salvador, citing multiple “anomalies.” The decision was announced on Friday as opposition from environmentalists and local communities continued to grow.
Patricia Orantes, head of the Ministry of Environment, said at a press conference that “the procedure for obtaining an environmental license must be amended.” She linked the revocation to irregularities identified in the licensing process.
License revoked over forged signatures and missing documentation
The mine is owned by Bluestone Resources, a Canadian company, and remains in the planning stage. The project targets a gold and silver deposit in Asunción Mita, a municipality east of Guatemala City.
Officials said the revoked license enabled a shift from underground to open-pit mining. The permit was issued on January 9, shortly before the end of right-wing President Alejandro Giammattei’s term.
Orantes stated that the move to open-pit mining amounted to “an entirely new and different project from the original one.” She also cited forged signatures and the disappearance of more than 900 pages of project documentation.
Proposed extraction volume and planned mining change
The company plans to extract more than 250 million cubic meters of soil and subsoil from the deposit. The project is described as involving material removal associated with the transition to open-pit operations.
According to Orantes, open-pit mining carries environmental risks including potential water pollution. She also cited loss of fertile soil, destruction of flora and fauna, and landscape changes tied to extracting millions of cubic meters of material.
Concerns about Lake Güija and the Lempa River
Local leaders and environmental groups have raised concerns about possible impacts on Lake Güija, a transboundary lake shared with El Salvador. They have also pointed to potential effects on the Lempa River.
The Lempa River begins in Guatemala and serves as the primary water source for San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador. The concerns focus on how changes linked to mining could affect water systems crossing national boundaries.
Referendum rejection in 2022 and requirement for a new study
In 2022, a community referendum in Asunción Mita rejected the mine. Despite that outcome, the Giammattei administration proceeded with plans to approve it.
Víctor Hugo Ventura, Minister of Energy and Mines, said that because of the irregularities identified in the licensing process, “the license for open-pit mining cannot be granted to this company.” He added that Bluestone Resources would need to conduct a new environmental impact study.