Elements of Colombia’s new Mining Law revealed

During a session of the Senate’s Accidental Commission on Mining, Colombia’s Minister of Mines and Energy, Andrés Camacho, revealed some of the elements of a proposed Mining Law, which is expected to be presented in the coming weeks.

According to Camacho, the upcoming bill incorporates the feedback of 1,500 people who gathered at the first National Mining Summit.

At the event, which was held in late May in Bogotá, a variety of stakeholders discussed some of the challenges the sector is facing, with a particular emphasis on those related to environmental and social governance, territorial planning and artisanal and ancestral mining practices.

In addition to tackling these issues, Camacho said the bill will focus on:

1. Planning resource use
2. Modernizing Colombia’s mining model
3. Transitioning into productive economies
4. Protecting artisanal and small-scale mining
5. Generating scientific knowledge

The proposed law, which will not constitute a reform to the existing Mining Code, also aims to promote an update of Colombia’s mining cadastre.

The Gustavo Petro left-wing administration also plans to revise other relevant legislation to harmonize environmental and community protection standards, as well as to provide miners with increased legal certainty.

Andrés Camacho, who took office in July, was tasked by Petro with leading Colombia’s transition towards a greener economy. At present, the South American country relies heavily on coal and oil exports as its two main sources of revenue.