Argentina to establish first protocol on mining social responsibility

The creation of the world’s first national protocol on sustainable and socially responsible mining was discussed at a meeting held in Argentina last week, called by the government of President Cristina Fernandez.

Jorge Mayoral, Argentina’s mining minister, met with several public and private organizations in that country to advance the establishment of a protocol to govern “the conduct and actions that mining companies should follow when prospecting or exploring mining opportunities” in Argentina, according to a posting on the National Department of Mining’s website.

The object of the meeting, Mayoral told those in attendance, was to create a framework of institutional reference, which will lead to the development of mining practices that guarantee social responsibility and sustainability.

Currently, most mining companies in the world follow a number of voluntary codes and initiatives supporting responsibly mining practices and sustainable development, according to ResponsibleGold.org. This is in addition to complying with all applicable laws and regulations of local, state, regional and national government bodies.

Argentina is South America’s third largest gold producer, but the country also produces copper, silver, aluminium, lead and zinc, among other minerals.

When Argentina finalizes its protocol, it will be the first country in the world to set its own rules and regulations around sustainable mining, something the country has been concerned with for a few years now.

In 2010, Mayoral was quoted by The International Resource Journal as telling the press that “mining operations in Argentina will prioritize protecting the environment and being sustainable.”

President Cristina Fernandez is known for being a supporter of the mining industry. Only last Friday, during the opening ceremony of a new mine in the Argentinean Patagonia, she defended the activity, saying that “it has helped generating highly qualified and well paid jobs,” reports local newspaper Noticias Iruya.

Fernandez added that mining should be controlled, not limited and quoted President of Ecuador, Rafael Correa’s words by saying “it is unacceptable that people starve on the surface when they are standing on great wealth right below them”.

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With the contribution of Suzanne Soto, owner of Si! Corporate Communications, a Greater Toronto Area company providing public relations services in both English and Spanish.