Illegal gold mining in Ciego de Ávila

A gold deposit in the Ciego de Ávila municipality of Baraguá was exploited without authorization by people from Ciego de Ávila and other eastern provinces.

Due to the losses this represents for the Cuban economy, the Minister of Energy and Mines, Vicente de La O Levy, denounced the extraction. The official also called for the community's support in combating this illegal activity.

Vicente de La O told Ciego de Ávila officials that this incident requires regular and intolerant action. He also stated that other illegal activities are also related to mining. 

However, extracting gold without the proper means and required controls could lead to serious accidents and health risks for those involved.

According to the Cuban News Agency, the price of goods is determined by the aforementioned natural resource. Therefore, these illegal extractions have an adverse impact on the country's economy and influence the devaluation of the national currency.

The Minister of Energy and Mines has ordered regional authorities to engage in dialogue with those who commit these crimes. However, appropriate measures will be taken to safeguard gold reserves for their proper exploitation. 

For this reason, a group of specialists will arrive in Baraguá in the coming days to thoroughly study the site.

When did illegal mining begin? 

The illegal exploitation of the mine began when the Council of Ministers approved a mining concession for the area. Furthermore, an international economic association had expressed interest in participating in the mineral extraction.

Illegal mining has created a complex situation in the Ciego de Ávila region, with the displacement of labor forces. Furthermore, motivated by profit, people from other provinces have settled in the area.

However, this isn't the first time such activity has occurred in Cuba. An illegal gold mine was raided in Camagüey in December. For this reason, authorities insist that the public get involved by reporting such violations.