Some countries have allowed mining to reopen in South America.
Argentina: ESSENTIAL
Argentina’s government classified mining an essential activity on April 3, a move which has allowed miners to begin lifting suspensions and operational reductions put in place last month at a string of operations.
These include Yamana Gold’s Cerro Moro gold mine, where normal operations are resuming after a partial demobilization of workers last month.
Bolivia: NON-ESSENTIAL
An obligatory quarantine imposed until April 15 has impacted mining operations, with Minera San Cristóbal and Pan American Silver among the companies suspending assets.
Brazil: ESSENTIAL
The Brazilian government declared mining operations essential in late March.
The move is aimed at keeping mining operations running despite restrictions imposed on business activity and the movement of people by state and local governments.
A number of mining operations have been suspended to meet state level restrictions, including Equinox Gold’s Pilar asset in Goiás state.
Chile: ESSENTIAL
Mining operations are continuing in Chile despite a 90-day state of catastrophe announced in March, which included powers to restrict movement and assure food supply and basic services.
But mining companies including state copper producer Codelco and Anglo American have slowed operations and reduced their workforce to comply with the declaration.
Colombia: ESSENTIAL
Quarantine measures included in Colombia’s Decree 457 allow for mining operations to continue.
Despite this, mining companies such as coal producers Cerrejón and Drummond have suspended or reduced operations to protect workers and neighboring communities.
Dominican Republic: ESSENTIAL
The Dominican Republic has announced a state of emergency but operations are continuing at Barrick Gold's Pueblo Viejo, Latin America’s biggest gold mine.
Ecuador: ESSENTIAL
About 80% of Ecuador’s production is paralyzed as a result of anti-COVID-19 measures, but oil and electricity are exempted while mines continue operations at minimum levels, Pablo Zambrano, head of the federation of production chambers, told BNamericas earlier.
However, Lundin Gold has suspended operations at Fruta del Norte – Colombia’s biggest gold mine, with the Mirador copper mine, operated by Chinese consortium CRCC-Tongguan, operating with a reduced workforce.
Honduras: NON-ESSENTIAL
Emergency measures imposed to tackle COVID-19 in Honduras impacted mining companies, with Aura Minerals’ San Andrés gold mine among those impacted.
However, individual mines including Ascendant Resources’ El Mochito zinc-lead-silver asset have been deemed essential to local communities and allowed to continue.
Mexico: NON-ESSENTIAL
The government has rebuffed industry calls for mining to be categorized as essential activity.
A suspension of all non-essential activities runs to April 30.
The bulk of mining companies have confirmed they are halting Mexican operations. Those which have not yet announced suspensions include Fresnillo.
An exemption to the suspension order may be sought for individual mines that will suffer irreversible damage from a shutdown, although no exemptions have been confirmed to date.
Nicaragua: NO RESTRICTIONS
Nicaragua’s government has taken a light touch in its response to the pandemic, with no social distancing measures in place, but Calibre Mining has halted operations at its gold mines.
Panama: ESSENTIAL
A 30-day suspension of non-essential activities in Panama exempted First Quantum Minerals’ Cobre Panamá copper-gold mine.
But operations have since been suspended following COVID-19 cases and the death of a subcontractor.
Peru: NON-ESSENTIAL
Social isolation measures announced in March and since extended to April 12 led to a long list of mine suspensions.
But exceptions have been granted.
A regulatory framework issued by the energy and mines ministry and interior ministry allows mines to operate during the lockdown with essential personnel, Fortuna Silver said in a release.
The company is continuing to operate its Caylloma mine under this framework, with a reduced workforce drawing stockpiled ore for processing.
Freeport-McMoRan also announced talks with government leaders in March aimed at allowing limited operations at the Cerro Verde copper JV to continue.
Argentina: ESSENTIAL
Argentina’s government classified mining an essential activity on April 3, a move which has allowed miners to begin lifting suspensions and operational reductions put in place last month at a string of operations.
These include Yamana Gold’s Cerro Moro gold mine, where normal operations are resuming after a partial demobilization of workers last month.
Bolivia: NON-ESSENTIAL
An obligatory quarantine imposed until April 15 has impacted mining operations, with Minera San Cristóbal and Pan American Silver among the companies suspending assets.
Brazil: ESSENTIAL
The Brazilian government declared mining operations essential in late March.
The move is aimed at keeping mining operations running despite restrictions imposed on business activity and the movement of people by state and local governments.
A number of mining operations have been suspended to meet state level restrictions, including Equinox Gold’s Pilar asset in Goiás state.
Chile: ESSENTIAL
Mining operations are continuing in Chile despite a 90-day state of catastrophe announced in March, which included powers to restrict movement and assure food supply and basic services.
But mining companies including state copper producer Codelco and Anglo American have slowed operations and reduced their workforce to comply with the declaration.
Colombia: ESSENTIAL
Quarantine measures included in Colombia’s Decree 457 allow for mining operations to continue.
Despite this, mining companies such as coal producers Cerrejón and Drummond have suspended or reduced operations to protect workers and neighboring communities.
Dominican Republic: ESSENTIAL
The Dominican Republic has announced a state of emergency but operations are continuing at Barrick Gold's Pueblo Viejo, Latin America’s biggest gold mine.
Ecuador: ESSENTIAL
About 80% of Ecuador’s production is paralyzed as a result of anti-COVID-19 measures, but oil and electricity are exempted while mines continue operations at minimum levels, Pablo Zambrano, head of the federation of production chambers, told BNamericas earlier.
However, Lundin Gold has suspended operations at Fruta del Norte – Colombia’s biggest gold mine, with the Mirador copper mine, operated by Chinese consortium CRCC-Tongguan, operating with a reduced workforce.
Honduras: NON-ESSENTIAL
Emergency measures imposed to tackle COVID-19 in Honduras impacted mining companies, with Aura Minerals’ San Andrés gold mine among those impacted.
However, individual mines including Ascendant Resources’ El Mochito zinc-lead-silver asset have been deemed essential to local communities and allowed to continue.
Mexico: NON-ESSENTIAL
The government has rebuffed industry calls for mining to be categorized as essential activity.
A suspension of all non-essential activities runs to April 30.
The bulk of mining companies have confirmed they are halting Mexican operations. Those which have not yet announced suspensions include Fresnillo.
An exemption to the suspension order may be sought for individual mines that will suffer irreversible damage from a shutdown, although no exemptions have been confirmed to date.
Nicaragua: NO RESTRICTIONS
Nicaragua’s government has taken a light touch in its response to the pandemic, with no social distancing measures in place, but Calibre Mining has halted operations at its gold mines.
Panama: ESSENTIAL
A 30-day suspension of non-essential activities in Panama exempted First Quantum Minerals’ Cobre Panamá copper-gold mine.
But operations have since been suspended following COVID-19 cases and the death of a subcontractor.
Peru: NON-ESSENTIAL
Social isolation measures announced in March and since extended to April 12 led to a long list of mine suspensions.
But exceptions have been granted.
A regulatory framework issued by the energy and mines ministry and interior ministry allows mines to operate during the lockdown with essential personnel, Fortuna Silver said in a release.
The company is continuing to operate its Caylloma mine under this framework, with a reduced workforce drawing stockpiled ore for processing.
Freeport-McMoRan also announced talks with government leaders in March aimed at allowing limited operations at the Cerro Verde copper JV to continue.
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