Ecuador’s Action Plan for the Mining Sector

MENRR to report on committed investment and expenditures in all mining projects.

Activation of Special Commission for the Control of Illegal Mining (SCCIM) to intervene in zones of illegal mining activity.

MENRR to report to the President on the formation of the Public-Private Mining Consulting Council.

Ministry of Environment, Water and Ecological Transition (MEWET), in coordination with MENRR, to deliver a Ministerial Agreement for the granting of licences with respect to potential effects on hydrological resources, based on the principles of efficiency, effectiveness and simplification of the administrative process.

Regulation Agency of the MENRR to report in detail to the President on the status of all current mining rights, as well as the status of the technological tool of the mining registry with a recommendation for improvements and an associated cost estimate.

Regulation Agency of the MENRR to implement a plan to develop the technology capable of executing correctly the administration of mining rights. Carrying out of this plan will allow for the reopening of the Mining Cadastre.

Regulation Agency of the MENRR to provide to the President an annual control plan with directives and chronograms for all of the mineral rights in the country.

MENRR to modify the Instructions for Granting of Mining Concessions for Metallic Minerals for the granting of concessions and those which have lapsed or been returned to the State, in order to establish equitable conditions for participation by national and international parties.

MEWET and MENRR to process all pending permits and report to the Secretary General. The names of officials responsible for permits not processed within this time frame are to be reported to the Secretary General.