Ecuador suspends illegal mining activities in Napo, Loja, and El Oro to combat environmental damage

Following a presidential resolution signed by Daniel Noboa, the Ministry of Environment and Energy executed suspensions on 89 mining concessions along with 54 mineral processing plants across Napo, Loja, and El Oro. The suspension is total in Napo, while in Loja and El Oro, it restricts all operations in processing plants. These actions respond directly to evidence of severe environmental degradation caused by illegal mining, including contamination of strategic water sources. Technical assessments revealed elevated levels of heavy metals such as copper, lead, arsenic, cadmium, and cyanide beyond legal limits in rivers like Calera and Amarillo, part of the Puyango–Tumbes watershed. This pollution poses acute risks to human health, biodiversity, and key ecosystems in the Amazon and southern regions.

The operation is coordinated by the Ministry of Environment and Energy, with technical support from the Mining Regulation and Control Agency (ARCOM) and operational backing from the armed forces. In the first week, authorities seized 409 tons of mineralized material and dismantled 26 illicit mining camps. The government is progressing toward achieving full suspension coverage in the affected provinces.

Mining concession holders and plant operators must now submit environmental management and action plans for approval before resuming activities. Administrative sanctions and legal proceedings are underway against violators via regional environmental offices (Zones 7, 8, and 10). The government emphasizes its dual objectives: halting illegal mining and restoring affected ecosystems to guarantee clean water access for impacted communities.

This decisive enforcement reinforces Ecuador’s constitutional mandate to protect natural resources amid rising concerns over environmental and social damage linked to clandestine mineral extraction. Constant vigilance and comprehensive regulation appear set to redefine the mining landscape in these critical areas.