Metals
Although Nicaragua was the world's 14th or 15th largest gold producer in the
1940's and 1950's, mineral production in the mid-1990s accounts for less than
1% of the country's gross domestic product.
Gold is still however one of the only major metals mined, and in 1997 an estimated
1,800 kg were produced. The Nicaraguan Mining Corp., or Corporación Nicaraguense
de Minas (INMINE), was established in 1988 to organize, administer, direct and
promote the country's mining industry as well as to control permits and licenses
for mining concessions. Since 1990, the government of Nicaragua has devoted
increasing attention to modernizing its legal framework. All resources, metallic
and nonmetallic, are the property of the state. A new mining law was being put
into effect in 1996 that would bring both the awarding of concessions and the
tax structure into closer accord with practice in much of the rest of the world.
Besides encouraging the formation and investment of private capital, the law
would be updated and simplified in the context of current mining technology.
Environmental remediation was a growing priority, given that Nicaragua had a
poor history of responsibility by past mining operations. Concession holders
are required to maintain environmental standards and restore any environmental
damage. The social value of small-scale miners, or guiriseros, in rural areas
is recognized, and they are given legal access to resources, mainly gold.
Nicaragua
Key Sectors
Mining/Metals: Production
|
Commodity |
Units |
1995 |
1996 |
1997 |
1998 |
1999 |
|
Bauxite |
MT 1000s |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Copper |
MT |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Diamonds |
Carats 1000s |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Gold |
KG |
1316 |
1500 |
2562 |
3834 |
2700 |
|
Iron Ore |
MT 1000s |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Iron Ore |
MT Millions |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Lead |
MT |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Nickel |
MT |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Phosphates |
MT 1000s |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Platinum |
KG |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Silver |
MT |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
3 |
|
Tin |
MT |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Zinc |
MT |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Sources: |
US Geological Survey |
Home | Business | Travel | Education | Culture | News | Articles | Reservation Center | General Information
Contact Us
Other Countries:
Costa Rica | Panama | Guatemala | Belize | Mexico | Puerto Rico | El Salvador | Honduras
Regional Sites
Tortuguero - Costa Rica
Ah! Nicaragua
Request Costa Rica Real Estate information
Contact Us Here
Advertise with Us
Costa Rica Adventures | Costa Rica Spanish School | Whitewater rafting Costa Rica
Click Here
and golf click here
