Overview
- Lawmakers approved a substitute text to extend the small‑scale mining formalization registry through the end of 2026 and to block reinstatement of roughly 50,565 excluded participants.
- President José Jerí said the government is preliminarily satisfied because its key requests—a one‑year extension and no reinstatement—were included, calling the result an intermediate step.
- The measure still requires confirmation in a second vote to be handled by the Permanent Commission, which convenes from December 16 to February 27.
- Jerí said the changes reflect consensus with Congress and sectors, and he warned that authorities will enforce the rule of law as miner roadblocks continue.
- Experts and civil‑society groups contend deadline extensions will not fix systemic failures such as fragmented institutions, concession rules and absent territorial planning, noting only eight miners completed formalization this year.