South Asia update

South Asia update

28th June 2007

Around the world, cross-border mining and minerals ventures are few and far between (the huge Pascua Lama project, straddling the Chile and Argentina frontier, is one rare example.) Where they do occur, such schemes are almost certain to incite vigorous opposition from one side or the other - or from both, as demonstrated by a recent historic meeting between Mexican and US mayors, seeking to restrain Asarco.

[see: http://www.minesandcommunities.org/Action/press1524.htm]

In May, the state government of Meghalaya, India, imposed a ban on the mining and transport of limestone from forest areas to a cement factory in Bangladesh operated by LaFarge. Now, the country's Supreme Court has asked the government to "show cause" why the supply should not be resumed.

Criticisms of Jindal's proposal, to mine and refine bauxite from Indigenous Peoples' hill ranges in eastern Andhra Pradesh, last week became even more vehement.