443:
occurred at the same time as the Lake Izabal pollution incident. Discharge from the mine at this time was reported by both the mining company and the government, and explicitly linked to the mine in the leaked documents. The investigation also found evidence of "troubling methods to exert influence over local politics and repress dissent.", including tens of thousands of dollars budgeted for bribery of community leaders. Local leaders report attempts at bribery and threats of violence for noncooperation with attempts to access nickel deposits under their towns.
45:
38:
348:
A warrant was issued for the arrest of the head of mine security, Mynor
Ronaldo Padilla Gonzáles in 2009, although he remained a fugitive and stayed on the company's payroll for several more years. He was convicted of homicide and on several counts of aggravated assault in 2021. A non-governmental
325:
The project has resulted in multiple lawsuits and years of conflict with the local community. Local villagers say that they were not fairly consulted about the project, that their water and livelihoods have been threatened, and they do not receive development benefits from the project. The company
455:
In
October 2021, protesters objecting to the allegedly rigged consultation blockaded the mine and the processing plant. After three weeks of blockades, on October 24, a confrontation where four police officers were wounded resulted in the government making an emergency declaration that restricted
442:
The investigation examined millions of leaked internal documents belonging to mining company Solway's
Guatemalan subsidiary, and found that several pollution events were not reported, some of which could have led to criminal prosecution. They also found documentation of a massive discharge that
413:
turned red for a period of weeks, and local fishermen began protesting the mine. At least one protester was shot and killed during these protests. The government blamed an algae bloom caused by sewage and denied connection to the mine, but local villagers blockaded the mine entrance and filed a
438:
residents blamed the mine for failed crops and water pollution. Residents also said that although they had been promised schools and other development, they had not seen these benefits. Communities on land claimed by the mine expressed fears that they would be displaced, and reported catching
377:
In late 2006 and early 2007, Skye
Resources (acquired by HudBay Minerals in 2008, renamed HMI Nickel and subsequently sold by HudBay in 2011) sought forced evictions of Mayan communities located on contested mine land. Homes were burned to the ground during these evictions.
353:
has said that the murder allegations are "very serious, and
Amnesty International calls for a swift, full and impartial investigation into the death of Adolfo Ich Chamán and other incidents of violence, to make the results public and to bring those responsible to justice”.
1098:
368:
ruled that the
Canadian company could be held legally responsible for crimes committed in Guatemala, including the alleged murder of Adolfo Ich Chamán and the alleged sexual assault of 11 women from Lote Ocho. A jury notice was filed in December 2013.
287:
in 2008. At this time, the
Eximbal subsidiary's name was changed to CompañĂa Guatemalteca de Niquel (CGN), which was 98.2% owned by Hudbay Minerals from August 2008 to September 2011, when it was sold for $ 170 million to the Russian owned
400:
heard a land-claims case from Mayan villagers impacted by the mine. The case is part of a years-long claim beginning in 2002, when area residents bought their land back from the
Guatemalan government, but never received title.
1102:
326:
says that it follows all environmental laws, has invested in the community and provides 1,900 jobs and additional contracted positions. The company insists that pollution in the lake is due to sewage and agriculture.
446:
The company denied wrongdoing, and questioned the authenticity of the documents. The government said that laboratory testing attributed the pollution event to micro-alga, but has not made these studies public.
393:, ruled that Guatemala had breached international law by granting the Fenix mining concession without first consulting with local Mayan people. The ILO released a report discussing the violation in 2007.
341:
community leader at the Fenix Mining
Project. The lawsuit alleges that on September 27, 2009, security personnel employed at the Fenix mine surrounded, beat and hacked at Adolfo Ich Chamán with
276:
From 1977 to 1980, the mine produced about 604,000 tonnes of saprolite ore annually, grading 2.12% nickel and yielded almost 15,000 tonnes of nickel. The operation was closed and placed on
357:
HudBay states that it and CGN have cooperated fully with all investigations conducted by
Guatemalan authorities in connection with the incidents which occurred on September 27, 2009, in
273:. The mine was explored by Guatemalan subsidiary Eximbal, and in 1965 the Guatemalan government granted the firm a 40-year lease to operate an open pit mine on 385 square kilometers.
970:
434:
found evidence of a smear campaign and suspicious economic payments that may have undermined the consultation process that followed the 2019 court ruling. It also found that local
209:
found evidence in leaked documents that the mining company covered up pollution events, bribed community leaders to support the mine, and made payments to police and the military.
345:
before shooting him in the head at close range in an unprovoked attack. According to the lawsuit, another man was crippled and a group of women were gang raped by mine security.
792:
456:
personal freedoms, imposed curfews, and deployed 1000 soldiers to El Estor (a community of 10,000). The soldiers arrested more than 60 protesters and raided over 40 homes.
329:
Residents in local communities also report attacks by mine security. Protests have been violently suppressed by police and the Guatemalan military, resulting in deaths.
748:(reference to journal article "The role in lateritic nickel mining in Latin American countries with special reference to exmibal in Guatemala" by Steven L. Driever)
1189:"Choc v. HudBay Minerals Inc. & Caal v. HudBay Minerals Inc. Lawsuits against Canadian company HudBay Minerals Inc. over human rights abuse in Guatemala"
212:
A protest in October 2021 resulted in a 30-day military enforced 'state of siege' in the area, raids on local homes and media outlets, and several arrests.
1034:
1153:
946:
598:
568:
361:. CGN carried out an internal investigation and determined that none of its employees or security personnel were involved in the death of Chamán.
95:
202:
from the mine. The mining company and the government say that they follow all environmental laws, invest in local communities, and provide jobs.
974:
37:
933:
796:
397:
220:
The Fenix project encompasses 250,000 square kilometers near the town of El Estor and adjacent to Guatemala's largest freshwater lake:
1203:
998:
898:
674:
635:
337:
In 2012, local peasants filed a lawsuit in Canada against HudBay Minerals and two of its subsidiaries over the killing of a prominent
386:
365:
250:
1017:
459:
Some local residents stated that they supported the emergency declaration and that the mine had brought development to the area.
415:
195:
1208:
1073:
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171:. The project consists of a cluster of several deposits with reserves amounting to 36.1 million tonnes of ore grading 1.86%
468:
311:
228:. Local people rely on fish from the lake. The project area also includes protected areas and habitat for the endangered
873:
845:
819:
507:
422:. The court ordered the suspension of operations at the mine. This ruling was overturned by the MEM in January 2022.
820:"This is What Development Looks Like: Part I: Skye Resources and Land Reoccupation in Guatemala | The Dominion"
414:
lawsuit. In 2019, the court found that the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) had failed to ensure local villagers'
908:
156:
903:
539:
419:
229:
418:
for the project, and that the mine had been operating since 2005 without local consent that is required by
183:
1124:"MEM firma resoluciĂłn para reactivar derecho minero FĂ©nix | Recursos para Prensa - Gobierno de Guatemala"
934:
http://www.chocversushudbay.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Fresh-As-Amended-Statement-of-Claim-filed.pdf
350:
199:
277:
254:
187:
846:"This is What Development Looks Like: Part II: Canadian mining firm burns homes | The Dominion"
717:
258:
430:
In 2019, a media investigation involving several outlets and coordinated by the French consortium
763:
1161:
643:
431:
283:
Skye Resources, a Vancouver firm, purchased the project from Inco in 2004 but was acquired by
206:
164:
73:
194:
villagers say that the mine has polluted their water, damaged their crops, that they weren't
912:
755:
995:
298:
Solway subsidiary CGN does the mining, while the subsidiary Pronico operates the refinery.
249:
Initial mining rights in the area were granted by military leaders following the US-backed
1021:
1002:
488:
Fenix Nickel Project (Eximbal Mine; El Estor Mine), El Estor, Izabal Department, Guatemala
243:
1014:
390:
349:
organization said the murder was “targeted killing of a well-known community leader.”
1154:"'Consent was never given': indigenous groups oppose restarting Guatemala nickel mine"
1077:
744:
190:, and later becoming implicated in lawsuits and violence between 2009 and 2022. Local
1197:
1038:
767:
269:
The Fenix nickel resource was first developed in 1960 by the Canadian mining company
435:
338:
289:
270:
236:
191:
176:
239:
villages, some of which have complained about water shortages and crop failures.
599:"Indigenous mine opponents targeted in raids during state of siege in Guatemala"
569:"Indigenous community takes Guatemalan land rights fight to international court"
410:
221:
1052:
490:
382:
1165:
793:"Canada's HudBay to sell Guatemala's Fenix nickel project to Russia's Solway"
647:
295:
After being dormant for decades, the project was reopened by Solway in 2014.
242:
Nickel from the mine is primarily exported to China or Europe to manufacture
110:
97:
307:
168:
83:
1035:"Guatemalan plaintiffs file jury notice against Hudbay Minerals in Ontario"
849:
823:
511:
487:
358:
160:
66:
759:
540:"Technical Report on an Update to the Fenix Project, Izabal, Guatemala"
342:
225:
179:
through Guatemalan subsidiaries CGN (once called Eximbal) and Pronico.
947:"Guatemalan widow's lawsuit against HudBay could be precedent setting"
636:"Guatemala court upholds request to suspend work at huge nickel mine"
284:
172:
135:
261:, and EXIMBAL mine security participated in this violence in 1978.
16:
Nickel mine and processing facility in Izabal Department, Guatemala
1188:
874:"Widow files $ 12M suit against mining company - World - CBC News"
996:
Statement of Events, of September 27, 2009, El Estor, Guatemala
317:
In 2019 the Fenix mining concession covered 250,000 sq km.
224:. The lake is an important breeding ground for endangered
899:"Guatemalan Peasants Sue Canadian Mining Company Hudbay"
718:"The Hidden Story of a Notorious Guatemalan Nickel Mine"
675:"Guatemalan town locked in battle against nickel mine"
205:
A 2019 media investigation coordinated by French NGO
381:
The Fenix mining project is also subject to ongoing
131:
126:
89:
79:
62:
26:
868:
866:
534:
532:
530:
528:
292:. Solway is now headquartered in Switzerland.
182:The mine has contributed to over six decades of
186:: initially implicated in violence during the
8:
44:
19:
1053:"Violent Evictions at El Estor, Guatemala"
18:
786:
784:
385:by local Mayan communities. In 2006, the
159:nickel mine and processing facility near
502:
500:
498:
510:. solwaygroup.com. 2012. Archived from
480:
739:
737:
1147:
1145:
1143:
892:
890:
405:Lake Izabal pollution incident (2017)
7:
1033:Lazenby, Henry (December 12, 2013).
711:
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593:
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398:Inter-American Court of Human Rights
235:The project and includes about 20
1183:External links and further reading
1152:Daniels, Joe Parkin (2022-03-06).
897:Lynch, Laura (November 30, 2012).
848:. Dominionpaper.ca. Archived from
822:. Dominionpaper.ca. Archived from
200:don't receive development benefits
14:
387:International Labour Organization
366:Ontario Superior Court of Justice
791:Dorothy Kosich (8 August 2011).
716:Cuffe, Sandra (March 27, 2022).
634:Garside, Juliette (2019-07-19).
265:Ownership and production history
43:
36:
1076:. Rights Action. Archived from
426:Forbidden stories investigation
439:deformed fish in Lake Izabal.
1:
1099:"ILOLEX: English display cgi"
745:"Canadian Mining in El Estor"
469:Mineral industry of Guatemala
333:2009 attacks and 2012 lawsuit
306:The Fenix Project in eastern
973:. Amnesty.ca. Archived from
416:free, prior informed consent
310:is a substantial brownfield
971:"Media Centre | Index"
603:Mongabay Environmental News
573:Mongabay Environmental News
259:Mayan people were massacred
251:1954 Guatemalan coup d'Ă©tat
230:Yucatan black howler monkey
22:Eximbal Mine; El Estor Mine
1225:
1001:February 10, 2012, at the
909:Public Radio International
844:Paley, Dawn (2007-01-11).
818:Paley, Dawn (2007-01-11).
409:In May 2017, the water in
175:. The project is owned by
1204:Nickel mines in Guatemala
1101:. Ilo.org. Archived from
1013:HudBay Minerals web site
994:HudBay Minerals Web Site
373:Evictions and land claims
141:
72:
31:
752:www.chocversushudbay.com
314:mine and process plant.
302:Resources and facilities
1074:"Evictions at El Estor"
420:international labor law
396:In February 2022, the
321:Environmental conflict
184:environmental conflict
1209:Environmental justice
1055:. YouTube. 2007-01-17
351:Amnesty International
253:. During the ensuing
111:15.52611°N 89.38972°W
20:Fenix Nickel Project
1015:Correcting W5 Report
876:. Cbc.ca. 2010-12-02
278:care and maintenance
255:Guatemalan civil war
188:Guatemalan civil war
149:Fenix nickel project
51:Fenix Nickel Project
915:on December 4, 2012
754:. 31 October 2010.
389:, an agency of the
280:from 1980 to 2004.
155:, is an integrated
116:15.52611; -89.38972
107: /
23:
1020:2012-02-03 at the
799:on 30 January 2015
760:10.1007/BF00572937
364:In June 2013, the
196:properly consulted
432:Forbidden Stories
207:Forbidden Stories
165:Izabal Department
145:
144:
74:Izabal Department
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911:. Archived from
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945:Hill, Matthew.
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508:"Fenix Project"
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312:nickel laterite
304:
285:Hudbay Minerals
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244:stainless steel
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1128:prensa.gob.gt
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1105:on 2012-01-15
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1080:on 2011-06-19
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1039:Mining Weekly
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977:on 2010-09-17
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951:Mining Weekly
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852:on 2014-08-08
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826:on 2014-08-08
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722:The Intercept
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514:on 2014-06-22
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451:2021 protests
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1169:. Retrieved
1158:The Guardian
1157:
1131:. Retrieved
1127:
1118:
1107:. Retrieved
1103:the original
1093:
1082:. Retrieved
1078:the original
1068:
1057:. Retrieved
1047:
1028:
1009:
990:
979:. Retrieved
975:the original
965:
954:. Retrieved
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917:. Retrieved
913:the original
902:
878:. Retrieved
854:. Retrieved
850:the original
839:
828:. Retrieved
824:the original
813:
801:. Retrieved
797:the original
771:. Retrieved
751:
725:. Retrieved
721:
683:. Retrieved
681:. 2021-10-28
678:
651:. Retrieved
640:The Guardian
639:
607:. Retrieved
605:. 2021-11-15
602:
577:. Retrieved
575:. 2022-02-09
572:
547:. Retrieved
543:
516:. Retrieved
512:the original
483:
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408:
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380:
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363:
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290:Solway Group
282:
275:
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211:
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181:
177:Solway Group
157:mountain-top
152:
148:
146:
919:December 1,
803:January 30,
773:January 30,
544:www.sec.gov
411:Lake Izabal
383:land claims
222:Lake Izabal
167:of eastern
114: /
90:Coordinates
1198:Categories
1171:2023-03-02
1133:2023-03-02
1109:2011-04-21
1084:2011-04-21
1059:2011-04-21
981:2011-04-21
956:2023-03-02
880:2011-04-21
856:2014-07-17
830:2014-07-17
727:2023-03-02
685:2023-03-02
653:2023-03-02
609:2023-03-02
579:2023-03-02
549:2023-03-02
518:2013-06-28
491:Mindat.org
475:References
216:Background
127:Production
102:89°23′23″W
99:15°31′34″N
1166:0261-3077
904:The World
768:189880773
679:France 24
648:0261-3077
308:Guatemala
169:Guatemala
84:Guatemala
1018:Archived
999:Archived
463:See also
359:El Estor
343:machetes
226:manatees
161:El Estor
132:Products
67:El Estor
63:Location
27:Location
257:, many
163:in the
80:Country
1164:
766:
646:
173:nickel
136:Nickel
764:S2CID
436:Mayan
339:Mayan
237:Mayan
192:Mayan
1162:ISSN
921:2012
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