Mexico Opens Talks With Vulcan to Settle Calica Dispute as Sheinbaum Weighs Purchase or Tourism Plan

Overview

• President Claudia Sheinbaum said her government is negotiating with Vulcan Materials to resolve the long‑running dispute over the Calica quarry and the Punta Venado port in Quintana Roo.
• Options under review include a state purchase of the property and port concession or repurposing the area for low‑impact tourism.
• The administration underscored that the quarry will not resume operations and that no new mining concessions will be issued there.
• Vulcan’s investor‑state arbitration under T‑MEC/ICSID seeking about $1.9 billion remains in process as Mexico pursues a negotiated outcome.
• The conflict followed a 2024 decree that designated more than 2,000 hectares as a protected area; an earlier government bid of roughly 6–8 billion pesos to buy the land was rejected by the company, which has also prompted concern from U.S. officials.