Natural Resources and Environmental Law

Last Monday January 30th, 2012, the Ministry of Mines and Energy issued Resolution No.180102, whereby it established the following mineral groups of strategic interest for the country:

• Gold (Au) its by-products, concentrated and associated minerals
• Platinum (Pt) its by-products, concentrated and associated minerals
• Copper (Cu) its by-products, concentrated and associated minerals
• Phosphates (P) its by-products, concentrated and associated minerals
• Potassium (K) its by-products, concentrated and associated minerals
• Magnesium (Mg) its by-products, concentrated and associated minerals
• Metallurgic and Thermal Coal its by-products, concentrated and associated minerals
• Uranium (U) its by-products, concentrated and associated minerals
• Iron (Fe) its by-products, concentrated and associated minerals
• Niobium and Tantalum (Coltan) and industrial sands its by-products, concentrated and associated minerals

Resolution No. 180102 regulates article 108 of Law 1450 of 2011, which sets forth that the mining authority may establish the minerals of strategic interest for the country, delimit special areas which are currently free to contract and over which no new applications will be received. Likewise, it is expected that the areas of strategic interest will be granted through tender processes to the best qualified contractors that perform their activities with the highest standards of the mining industry.

     Andres Vélez Serna:   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it