Colombia Seeks to Add Rare Earth and Other Resources to Reach 28 Strategic Minerals
A project by the National Mining Agency, or ANM, proposes expanding the groups of minerals considered strategic for Colombia from 17 to 28, an update that could guide decisions on the use of these resources. The initiative has so far been published only for public comment, but if it successfully passes this mandatory stage, it […]
Colombia is considering adding rare earth elements and additional minerals to its list of 28 strategic resources. This update, proposed by the National Mining Agency (ANM), aims to strengthen the study of these minerals' geological potential, promote exploration, and prioritize the allocation of strategic mining areas. The update could guide decisions on the use of these resources, particularly as the demand for minerals such as copper, nickel, lithium, and rare earth elements grows due to the energy transition and technology industries.
The ANM's Vice Presidency for Promotion and Development and the Colombian Geological Service will take the list of strategic minerals into account when defining Strategic Mining Reserve Areas. However, anthropologist Lizeth Serrato Contreras raises concerns about the definition of "strategic" and for whom it is a priority, emphasizing the need for clear explanations and citizen participation in the decision-making process.
She also highlights the importance of examining the international dimension, particularly the proposed cooperation instruments between Colombia and the United States on critical minerals and civil nuclear cooperation. Serrato Contreras urges the public to request clarity regarding the objectives, scope, and monitoring mechanisms of these agreements.
Researcher Manuel Jose Ocampo argues that expanding the list of strategic minerals would lead to three main effects: repealing ANM Resolution 1006 of 2023, granting ANM the authority to define Strategic Mining Areas with objective contractor selection processes, and enabling the state to carry out geoscientific knowledge processes to better understand these minerals' potential.
While Ocampo acknowledges concerns about the potential for criminal economies to strengthen through the exploitation of strategic minerals, he emphasizes the need for academic proposals to consider illegal extraction as a transnational crime and for the national government to act accordingly. The 28 strategic minerals identified by the ANM include silica sands, barite, bauxite, limestone, coal, copper, rare earth elements, emeralds, tin, feldspar, and graphite.
Written by urgent.news from Colombia One's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
