The Dominican Republic said it will create a state mining firm – Empresa Minera Dominicana S.A., or Emidom – to explore, exploit and run economic viability studies on the nation’s key mining resources, reported Reuters.
The news agency said the miner will be able to negotiate contracts and alliances with international firms and it will have a nine-member board, led by the minister of the presidency.
Emidom is also tasked with managing the Avila mining reserve in southern Pedernales province, noted Reuters. The reserve borders Haiti and was in 2018 declared an area to be explored for possible rare earth projects.
Last year, the U.S. military said a team of its engineering researchers worked with local authorities in the highlands of Pedernales to evaluate the area’s viability.
The Caribbean nation is home to Barrick Gold’s Pueblo Viejo mine, the largest gold mine in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Source: Reuters