18 more gold mines shut down in Colombia
Sunday, 24 October 2010
BOGOTA, Oct 23 (Commodity Online): In its efforts to regulate mining and environmental hazards to workers, Colombia closed down 18 more illegal gold mines in the country.
According to country's environment ministry, they are reviewing the legality of at least 571 mines across the country.
The latest closure brings the number of mines closed to 48 since President Juan Manuel Santos took office in August.
The environment ministry said the latest operation involved at least 233 police officers, soldiers, mining regulators and environmental officials moving to shutter 18 mines in the departments of Antioquia and Cordoba in northwestern Colombia.
South America's attention has been drawn to problems in mines since 33 miners were trapped in a Chilean mine by a rock collapse in early August.
They spent more than two months underground, until they were brought to the surface last week in a rescue operation that was broadcast around the globe.
According to country's environment ministry, they are reviewing the legality of at least 571 mines across the country.
The latest closure brings the number of mines closed to 48 since President Juan Manuel Santos took office in August.
The environment ministry said the latest operation involved at least 233 police officers, soldiers, mining regulators and environmental officials moving to shutter 18 mines in the departments of Antioquia and Cordoba in northwestern Colombia.
South America's attention has been drawn to problems in mines since 33 miners were trapped in a Chilean mine by a rock collapse in early August.
They spent more than two months underground, until they were brought to the surface last week in a rescue operation that was broadcast around the globe.