Mongabay · Climate & nature

Bolivia's Mining Law Overhaul Sparks Concerns

Bolivia is updating its mining laws to modernize the industry and improve oversight. However, civil society and Indigenous groups have raised concerns about the process and potential impacts.

Officials aim for the new code to boost economic development and include environmental protections, following stakeholder meetings. A preliminary bill will be sent to the legislature.

The current 2014 code covers mining, environmental oversight, and community participation. Updates focus on strengthening rights, investment, formalization, and transparency, with a goal of responsible environmental management.

Potential changes include new tax structures, indefinite contract extensions, and institutional restructuring. Some proposals may remove prior consultation for Indigenous communities.

Communities have long opposed mining projects for water use and low royalties, and denounced illegal mining's pollution and deforestation.

Groups accuse the government of excluding them from the review, potentially weakening environmental reforms and prioritizing profit over regulation.

Ruth Alipaz noted that environmental discussions exclude those aware of gold mining's health and environmental impacts.

The technical committee includes the Unified Confederation of Peasant Workers, government, cooperatives, and private companies.

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