Mexico''s Congress on
Wednesday urged the government to cancel Grupo Mexico''s concession to operate
one of the world''s biggest copper mines after a toxic spill there earlier this
month.
The federal attorney general''s office for
environmental protection (Profepa) says the spill pumped 40,000 cubic meters of
toxic mining acid into the Bacanuchi river in northern Sonora state.
Profepa said on Monday it would bring charges
against Buena Vista del Cobre, the Grupo Mexico subsidiary that operates the
copper mine.
Metals miner and railroad operator Grupo Mexico
is in the midst of a $3.4 billion expansion project at the mine, which is
formerly known as Cananea and has the largest proven copper reserves in the
world. The expansion aims to boost production capacity to 1.3 million tonnes by
2017.
The permanent committee that presides over
Congress when it is not in regular session urged the economy ministry to
"order the cancellation of the concession given to Grupo Mexico regarding
the Cananea mine as a result of the ecological damage and the imminent risk the
population was subjected to."
It also called on the state of Sonora''s
government to suspend activities at the mine.
A spokesman for Groupo Mexico was not
immediately available to comment.
President Enrique Pena Nieto said early on
Wednesday that damage done by the spill to the surrounding population and
environment was high, and added that he assumed small sanctions "would not
do."
|