Bolivia releases 1.5 million mining grids ahead of national mining summit

Bolivia mining grids Cumbre Minera 2026 Fencomin dispute Fecoman mercury alternatives mining regulatory reform

Bolivian Mining Minister Marco Antonio Calderón told cooperating miners in Oruro that the government has freed 1.5 million mining grids, creating about 33,000 new work areas nationwide, fulfilling promises made to the sector. The release follows a series of meetings with the National Federation of Mining Cooperatives (Fencomin) and other stakeholders.

The upcoming Cumbre Nacional Minera 2026, scheduled for late June to late July, will seek to update the mining legal framework. Technical workshops will address legal security, mining contracts, environmental protection and responsible mining, aiming to strengthen institutional governance and attract investment.

Fencomin withdrew from the summit, accusing the government of weakening the process by recognizing other organisations. In contrast, the Northern Auriferous Cooperatives Federation (Fecoman) called for state‑backed projects to replace mercury in gold extraction, invoking the Minamata Convention and presenting a six‑axis proposal for the summit. The ministry also announced that roughly 2,000 work areas have been requested and that the mining authority will regularise 5,400 contracts within three months.