Mining expansion concerns rise in San Juan and Elías Piña

Concerns are rising in the Dominican Republic regarding the expansion of mining interests in the provinces of San Juan and Elías Piña. Narciso Isa Conde, a leader of the Partido del Poder Popular (PPP), reported that there are 37 mining files registered in the region, covering approximately 92,969 hectares. These records include exploration and exploitation requests, concessions, and mining complaints, involving both metallic and non-metallic minerals.

GoldQuest is a central actor in this discussion, holding 15 records totaling roughly 19,339 hectares, which includes the Romero project. The Romero project covers approximately 3,997 hectares. Additionally, the Juan de Herrera project by Precipitate Gold is located adjacent to Romero, covering about 12,706 hectares.

The Environmental Commission of the Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo (UASD) has issued an alert following a corporate presentation by GoldQuest in September 2026. The commission noted that the company characterizes the current halt of activities at the Romero project as a “temporary pause” and is projecting a path for expansion. UASD has called for an immediate public response from the President and the ministries of Energy and Mines, and Environment and Natural Resources, to protect water resources, agricultural vocation, and the rights of local communities.