Codelco will be the third transnational to be forced to abandon the mining project.

Source: Medium

Once it became official that Chile’s Codelco, the world’s largest copper producer, was abandoning the Llurimagua mining project in Intag (Ecuador) , it didn’t take long for the government to announce that it would be auctioning off the concession. If history is any guide, it will do so without the proper consent of the local governments and local communities to be impacted.

What exactly will it be auctioning? Besides copper, the LLurimagua mining concession is rich in primary cloud forests which protect 43 sources of rivers and streams, and more than 100 species of plants and animals in danger of extinction. The list includes (to date), jaguars, three species of monkeys (all critically endangered), the Spectacled Bear, 33 species of frogs- some found nowhere else but in the mining concession, plus the Plate-billed Mountain Toucan, the andean eagle and several species of orchids. The list is depressingly long.

In addition, there are farming communities within and adjacent to the concession. Some communities use these forests and crystal clear rivers and streams for Ecotourism.

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An environmental impact study prepared by Japanese scientist based on a small copper deposit warned of heavy metal contamination of rivers and stream. They also predicted “massive deforestation” which would dry up our climate. If that happens, thousands of small farmers will be affected. All the environmental impact studies have also identified unexplored preincan archeological sites within the concession. Furthermore, the Japanese study predicted four communities will have to be relocated to make room for the mine and all the accompanying infrastructure.

The mine also threatens to trample collective rights, human rights, and the rights of Nature. It will also destroy a sustainable alternative to extractivism that has peacefully resisted mining for three decades.

For a much more detailed picture of the legal, economic, environmental, social, and geological obstacles that the new mining company will face if it is foolish enough to acquire this mining concession, refer to the document 25 Reasons why mining companies should stay the hell away from Intag

All this to give life to a transnational corporation that will plunder the country’s mineral resources , but leave a trail of poisoned rivers, extinction of species, ruined landscapes, and hundreds of displaced families.

In the end, if this travesty prevails, it will benefit a very small sector of the economy and a few individuals for about 20 to 30 years. It will also, history has shown over and over again, leave an economically poorer Ecuador.

Whichever company acquires de mining concession, one thing is clear: they will face a very committed, valiant and smart opposition that has been battling transnational mining for three decades.

This article originally appeared on Medium