Engineer Ricardo Navarro expresses concern over the anticipated earnings from El Salvador's bitcoin mining operations failing to compensate for the environmental and social harm they incur.
10 min. On December 23, 2024, the government of President Nayib Bukele in El Salvador repeals the 2017 General Metallic Mining Law, reintroducing mining activities due to its prevalent adverse environmental and social impacts. This decision has triggered grave concerns among local communities, environmental organizations, and experts alike. In this exclusive interview, we speak with renowned engineer, activist, and environmentalist Ricardo Navarro, who issues a stern warning about the potential consequences of mining and argues that any claimed economic benefits do not outweigh the detrimental environmental and social damage caused.
Navarro was born in the Salvadoran city of Sonsonate, dedicating his life to the defense of the environment and sustainable development. He founded the Salvadoran Center for Appropriate Technology (CESTA), leading numerous projects promoting bicycling, solid waste management, recycling initiatives, and agroecological gardens. Navarro has also worked on forest rehabilitation, turtle conservation, environmental education, and research on climate change.
But Navarro’s activism has come at a price, as he has received death threats in the past. In the 1990s, he was included on a list of 13 marked-for-death targets by a death squad. Despite his harrowing experiences, other environmental activists were not as fortunate; four activists from San Isidro were persecuted in 2009 for opposing mining projects in their communities.
Navarro took a keen interest in the fight against mining in the late 1990s when, as president of Friends of the Earth International, he participated in a meeting organized by the United Nations in Nairobi. It was here that he became aware of the devastating impact of mining, leading him to bring the issue to the forefront in El Salvador, where it had garnered little attention prior. Since then, Navarro has unwaveringly opposed this industry, denouncing the profound effects on water, ecosystems, and the health of communities.
What are the main risks of mining for the health of the population and for the environment?
To start, exposure to chemicals such as cyanide used in mining, can cause irreversible skin damage in nearby residents. With just 1 gram of cyanide, three adult males weighing 90 kg each can be killed. For every gram of gold extracted, a million grams of rock contaminated with toxic waste, including cyanide, are left behind. As a result, every time it rains, the contamination gradually seeps into the soil and water, causing severe long-term diseases both for people and animals.
Water contamination is particularly problematic in areas surrounding the Lempa River, which serves as the main water source in the country. For instance, experiments using cyanide in the water were carried out in San Isidro, and cows consuming this water died due to toxicity. This is because cyanide interferes with the transmission of oxygen between red blood cells and organs, resulting in serious organ distress and preventing proper oxygenation.
Additionally, the destruction of natural ecosystems through deforestation, impacts vegetation, and habitats, further degrading the environment.
Despite the government's claims that modern mining is more sustainable, the techniques have not fundamentally changed. Water consumption has been reduced, and some cyanide is recycled, but the environmental impact remains high, with deforestation, destruction of territory, and displacement of communities. There are less polluting methods, such as biominery, but they are more expensive, so over 90% of mining companies continue to employ cyanide due to its low cost. Although the new Salvadoran law prohibits mercury, it does not address the harmful effects of cyanide.
The economic advantages that President Bukele expects to generate from mining are not commensurate with the disastrous environmental and social damage it causes. The concentration of gold in El Salvador is only 1 gram per ton of rock, which is a low-grade concentration, meaning the mining companies benefit at the expense of the environment and communities. The government would be left with meager profits from tax revenues.
Since the repeal of the mining ban, the Salvadoran government has been met with a surge of opposition from various sectors, including the population at large. The Catholic Church, universities, guilds, and the Medical College have all spoken out firmly against the reactivation of mining activities. Surprisingly, this active resistance to mining crosses political, social, and generational boundaries, demonstrating a collective interest and a pronounced rejection of mining's reemergence.
As the Salvadoran government continues to push for mining, they face significant challenges, as the population is resolute in preventing mining's advance. It remains to be seen howEvents unfold, but increased repression and an escalation in conflict are possible outcomes. In the face of these concerns, viable economic alternatives for the country are being explored, such as fostering local food production, improving water distribution systems, and promoting the use of renewable energies.
- The devastating impact of mining, as discussed by Ricardo Navarro, extends to both the environment and the health of populations, with exposure to chemicals like cyanide potentially causing irreversible skin damage and severe long-term diseases.
- In the matter of environmental science and climate-change, Navarro argues that modern mining techniques, despite claims of sustainability, continue to have high environmental impacts, including deforestation, destruction of territory, and displacement of communities.
- The political landscape in El Salvador, post the repeal of the 2017 General Metallic Mining Law, has witnessed a surge of protest from various sectors, including the general public, Church, universities, guilds, and the Medical College, expressing grave concerns over the reactivation of mining activities.
