Ministry of Economy suspends works of 10 mining concessions

The General Directorate of Mines of the Ministry of Economy reported this Friday that it provisionally suspended the works and works in 10 mining concessions on August 11, among which is not the one corresponding to Pinabete.

Previously, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador pointed out that irregularities have been detected in the management of the El Pinabete mine, in Sabinas, Coahuila, which suffered damage last week and in which 10 workers are still trapped underground.

The suspension of the 10 concessions will remain until the employers or representatives of each of the work centers certify compliance with the measures dictated in each of the respective files after the inspections carried out by the Secretary of Labor and Social Welfare (STPS).

None of the aforementioned concessions corresponds to that of “Las Conchitas Fracc. North” title number 221087, property of CIA MINERA EL PINABETE, SA DE C. V

The General Directorate of Mines was informed by the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, on August 9, about the existence of a letter dated December 9, 2021, which requested the Director General of Mines at that time to proceed with the provisional suspension of works and works of the mining lots: 219392, 198194, 224555, 216996, 219420, 240825-240826, 219355, 219316, 243787 and 233958. As indicated in the second paragraph, the property CIA MINERA EL PINABETE, SA DE CV did not appear

The then General Director of Mines did not proceed with the provisional suspension of works and works, arguing that the STPS information on the 10 previously mentioned concessions (219392, 198194, 224555, 216996, 219420, 240825-240826, 219355, 219316 , 243787 and 233958), did not coincide with the registration data held by the General Directorate of Mines.

Considering this and other possible irregularities, of which the Internal Control Body in the Ministry of Economy has been informed, with the purpose of investigating and, where appropriate, establishing the corresponding responsibilities, the director general was dismissed. de Minas and the director of Obligations Review last June.

The Ministry of Economy has been present at the El Pinabete facilities at all times through the Mexican Geological Service with two of its geologists, as well as a doctor from the Autonomous University of Nuevo León with a specialty in hydrogeology.

roberto.morales@eleconomista.mx