Gold is Nicaragua’s No.3 Export #nicaragua, #goldmining

Raising gold prices has pushed the commodity to the third most important export
in Nicaragua, behind coffee and meat. It has also grew the economy by 4 percent,
the highest in Central America. Indeed, when one can make $1600 from one ounce
of gold, which cost $500 to produce, it is no wonder why gold mining is booming
across Latin America. La Libertad, the largest gold mine in the country is
operated by Candian company B2Gold, which has spent $100 million to modernise
the operation in 2009. The mine has doubled Nicaraguas gold production in the
past three years and created jobs in the community which has been living in
poverty. Due to its inadvertent damage to the environment and disruption to
local communities, gold mining has been controversial in many parts of the
world, including Latin America. In Nicaragua, however, these issues take the
backseat with imminent concerns over poverty and unemployment. B2Gold has been
developing the community through sponsoring education, community and health
programmes. Some of its efforts include paving the roads, building houses for
miners and even to refurbish the towns basketball court with new roof and
lights. "The idea is to give recreational opportunities to some of the youth,
the kids here in La Libertad so that they have something to do in the
evenings," said Tom Lee, head of corporate social responsibility in Nicaragua
for B2Gold Soaring gold prices equates golden opportunities in Latin America.
How do you ride on this wave of interest in Latin America? Asia Mining Congress
has a dedicated Americas Day to address all that you want to know about Latin
America. Download the programme brochure here. Network and connect with our
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