Photo: Zijin Continental Gold.
The Buriticá gold mine, located in the Colombian municipality of Antioquia, has been the epicenter of a legal conflict involving the Chinese multinational company Zijin and the Ancestral Miners Community of Buriticá. This area, considered Colombia’s most prosperous gold deposit, has been a source of tension since its acquisition by Zijin in 2020. Encompassing over 10,200 hectares, the mine has been coveted for its economic potential but has also been fertile ground for conflict among various interests.
In the legal claim presented by the regional body of miners, requests were made to ensure their right to work and their safety in the mine. Among these requests is the petition for Zijin to concede them a specific area of 140 hectares where they have been operating for over a decade, arguing that this mining activity is vital for the livelihood of more than 300 families in the municipality.
Additionally, they have urged for their activity to be formalized, seeking to end the stigmatization as illegal miners and the conditions of poverty in which they live, as well as the constant exposure to criminal groups that haunt the area. This formalization would also be aimed at ensuring their safety and protection against possible reprisals by illegal actors operating in the region.
Meanwhile, Zijin has filed a lawsuit against the Colombian state for US$500 million, alleging that control of 60-70% of the mining tunnels they required is in the hands of the armed group the Clan del Golfo. which has therefore affected its operations. The case has been brought before the Constitutional Court, where a resolution is expected to address the conflict in a fair and equitable manner.
The presence of the Clan del Golfo in the area has further exacerbated tensions. With control over a significant part of the mine shafts, the criminal group has carried out armed attacks against the Chinese company and the artisanal miners, further complicating the situation and creating an atmosphere of insecurity in the region.
Amidst this legal dispute, uncertainty about the future of the Buriticá mine remains, threatening the stability and economic development of the region. Despite having had an environmental license since 2016 and having started commercial gold production in 2020, the mine faces significant obstacles to its continued operation and its potential to contribute to Colombia’s economic growth.
Main source:
El pleito con multinacional china por la mina de oro más rica de Colombia | El Espectador (2024, abril 2). https://www.elespectador.com/judicial/el-pleito-con-multinacional-china-por-la-mina-de-oro-mas-rica-de-colombia-en-buritica-antioquia/?outputType=amp