Pacific Rim Background
Pacific Rim Mining Corporation, a Canadian company, is seeking to develop the El Dorado gold mine project in San Isidrio, Cabañas. The site covers 144 sq km (55 sq mi), and according to the company’s estimates, it contains deposits of 1.2 million ounces of gold, and 7.4 million ounces of silver. Pacific Rims’ mining permits were suspended due to public opposition to the project and deficiencies in its environmental impact study. In late 2008, under Central American Free Trade Agreement provisions Pacific Rim filed a Notice of Intent to sue the Salvadoran government for lost investments if the permits are not granted. In February, Pacific Rim announced it would temporarily freeze its activities due to the volatility of input costs. President Tony Saca has reiterated his unwillingness to grant the mining permits.
For more information, see the following:
- Pacific Rim’s webpage on El Dorado project
- Inter Press Service’s article “EL SALVADOR:“Life Is Worth More than Gold” Say Anti-Mining Activists” by Raul Gutierrez. Feb 1, 2008.
- Mineweb’s artcile “Fed up with El Salvador’s President, Pacific Rim slows mining investment in the country” by Dorothy Kosich. July 4, 2008.
- Upside Down World “El Salvador: Pressure from Pacific Rim Mining Company Intensifies, Anti-Mining Activist Home Robbed” by CISPES. Feb 4, 2009.
September 7, 2009 at 3:39 pm |
I am from vanouver,canada and i wanted to say that i supports the gov. of El Salvador in the case against Pacific Rim mining co.I hope that the gov. of El Salvador gets support from other countries in central and south america on this case.Canada got mining companys all over the world and it is the same problem everywhere.These canadian mining companys make huge profits in third world countries.The money is of no benefit to the working class in canada.I wouldn’t want money got on the backs of the working class in other countries.These criminals like Pacific Rim needs to be brought to justice.The canadian gov. is complicit in this criminal act by Pacific Rim against the gov. of El Salvador.
Stan Squires