In December 2024, the National Mining Agency will resume the functions of the Mining Authority, which for many years had been delegated to the Secretariat of Mines of the Government of Antioquia. Almost seven months after this decision, the “grief” is still felt, but it is time to look forward and try to improve, support and promote, with our own resources, an activity that has historically been the support for the growth and development of the department, such as mining activity.
It should be of some use that all the large and medium-sized mining companies that extract gold such as Antioquia Gold, Aris Mining, Mineros, Sun Valley and Zijn-Continental Gold are present in our department. We cannot ignore that approximately 50% of the gold that Colombia exports does so from the Antioquia territory. The positive impact that these companies have on their natural environments is immeasurable, Cisneros, Segovia, Remedios, Bajo Cauca, Buriticá, Santa Fe de Antioquia and Medellín.
From geological-mining exploration, the presence of Anglo Gold Ashanti with its Gramalote and Quebradona projects, for the use of polymetallic mineral resources, which in the medium term will serve to improve the indicators of mining activity in the department, the country and its global impact.
We cannot fail to mention cement companies, which although they are seen in the construction sector, the basis is the use of industrial mineral resources, such as in this case calcium carbonate or limestone. Companies such as Cementos Alion, Cementos Argos, the cement company Cemex, and Cementos San Pío, among others, contribute to making mining in the department more important every day. Additionally, companies such as Sumicol-Corona, Omya, give greater added value to the high quality limestone present in the Antioquia territory.
The two main International Gold Traders or ICs in Colombia are located in Antioquia. Both Meprecol and Gutierrez market abroad the polymetallic minerals that are extracted in Antioquia and some nearby departments.
The importance of the extraction and exploitation of stone materials for the completion of the 4G roads, for the infrastructure works planned for this four-year period, for Puerto Antioquia, for the footprint plates in each and every one of the municipalities of the department, means that This mining activity is becoming more and more important.
There are problems, of course (we will analyze them in a future column). Together, with the National and departmental Government, the mining Institutions, companies, communities and academia, we must join the necessary efforts so that mining continues to shine in the department, just as it has done in the last century.
Finally, the social impact of this mining activity in Antioquia and the relationship with other economic sectors can serve to lay the foundations for a sector that will continue to be the driving force of development in the department. Aligning national policies with departmental strategies and, above all, with the political will to turn the department of Antioquia into that department to show throughout the country, to serve as a benchmark that things are done well here. There are many positive things to do in the medium term in mining in the department of Antioquia, it is time to see the “glass half full” again.
