Ejido Benito Juárez residents vote on lifting 100-year mining ban

Residents of Ejido Benito Juárez in the municipality of Buenaventura are convening a decisive assembly to vote on whether to revoke a 100-year moratorium on mining activities. The current ban, established in 2012 and validated by the Agrarian Tribunal, was originally implemented following a conflict that resulted in the deaths of two local activists, Ismael Solorio Urrutia and Manuela Solís Contreras.

The assembly will determine if the community allows the entry of Canadian mining interests, specifically Apollo Silver Corporation and its “Cinco de Mayo” silver project. Proponents highlight the potential for economic revitalization, citing a possible injection of over $800 million and the creation of permanent jobs.

Conversely, opponents express significant concerns regarding environmental impact, particularly the severe water stress in the local aquifer. Critics argue that large-scale underground mining could deplete water resources essential for the region's traditional agricultural and livestock activities. The community also faces a choice between economic development and the preservation of their semi-desert ecosystem.