El Salvador Lifts Metal Mining Ban, Sparking Environmental Concerns

President Nayib Bukele's government overturns a 2017 prohibition, citing economic potential despite opposition from environmentalists and the Catholic Church.

• El Salvador's Congress, dominated by President Bukele's party, voted 57 to 3 to repeal a seven-year ban on metal mining, with the new law set to take effect upon his approval.
• The legislation grants the government exclusive control over mining operations, allowing partnerships with private companies, while banning mercury use and restricting mining in protected areas and key watersheds.
• Bukele claims the country's untapped gold reserves could be worth $3 trillion, presenting mining as a pathway to economic transformation and reduced tax burdens.
• Environmental groups, the Catholic Church, and a majority of Salvadorans oppose the move, citing risks to water supplies, including the Lempa River, which serves much of the population.
• Critics argue the decision prioritizes short-term economic gains over long-term environmental sustainability, with protests erupting as the law was passed.

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