The Mining, Metallurgical, Siderurgical and Similar Workers Union of the Mexican Republic, known as Los Mineros, denounced this weekend that Minera Adularia Exploración, a mining company linked to New York-based The Electrum Group, has been polluting the Neutla community freshwater supply.
In detail, the union led by left-wing senator Napoleón Gómez Urrutia said that Adularia has been dumping tonnes of toxic waste from its Celaya- ANP mine in the town’s drinking water well. Neutla is located in the central Guanajuato state.
In 2018, Golden Minerals sold, for $3 million, 100% of its right, title and interest in and to the Celaya exploration property to Minera Adularia Exploración
Gómez Urrutia and his group also said Adularia dumps waste in un-waterproofed pits, which means that those residues are able to make it to the aquifers and pollute water flowing from the Neutla dam, a natural protected area.
“The company has been acting with total impunity for a long time and hasn’t been punished or asked to halt operations, despite the fact that it has already caused severe damages to the local wildlife,” a media statement issued by the union reads. “We are making an urgent call to federal and state environmental authorities to stop this ecological and sanitary crime, to start an investigation and, if needed, to remove the company’s mining concession.”
According to Los Mineros, people at Neutla have also been denouncing water shortages caused by the mine’s use of the community’s wells.
Prior to Los Mineros’ intervention, the local government of Comonfort, a municipality to which Neutla belongs, took water samples from the wells to be independently analyzed. Results are expected in the coming weeks.
Comonfort’s website states that Adularia has halted operations in the meantime.