Venezuelan Groups Warn Mining Bill May Boost Illegal Gold Trade

They cautioned that the law lacks essential safeguards, including mandatory environmental impact assessments, independent monitoring and protections for Indigenous communities.

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): A coalition of Venezuelan civil society, human rights and environmental organizations has raised alarm over a proposed mining law, warning it could deepen illegal extraction and environmental degradation while exposing foreign firms to high-risk supply chains.

The draft legislation, currently under debate in Venezuela’s National Assembly, is part of broader reforms aimed at opening the mining sector to foreign investment and extending concessions, following recent policy shifts backed by the United States.

In a joint statement, advocacy groups argued the bill could legitimize what they describe as “systematic plundering” of ecologically sensitive regions such as the Amazon and the Guiana Shield. They cautioned that the law lacks essential safeguards, including mandatory environmental impact assessments, independent monitoring and protections for Indigenous communities.

Concerns have intensified following a recent agreement between state-owned miner Minerven and commodities trader Trafigura to supply up to 1,000 kilograms of gold to U.S. refineries, signaling renewed cross-border trade ties.

The coalition also highlighted the growing footprint of illegal armed groups in mining zones and warned that weak oversight could enable further environmental damage, as Venezuela seeks to attract investment into its mineral-rich regions.

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