Fenix mine, the largest nickel mine in Central America has resumed its operation after long years of shut down.
The authorities took the decision amid violent clashes between the natives and security forces, disputes relating the land ownership and current lawsuits for murder and gang rape reported there.
The largest nickel mine in Guatemala has been shut down for 30 years. It was inaugurated by the president Otto Pérez during his recent visit to the site. He called the mine as the biggest investment in the history of the nation.
Years of alleged killings, intimidation, violence, harassment and evictions of Q’eqchi’ people in the Fenix region made hindrance to the mining operations there. Some of the people filed lawsuits for getting legal title of their land.
At present, three lawsuits are ongoing for the 2007 gang rapes allegedly committed by company security, the army and police, for 2009 murder of Q’eqchi’ man Adolfo Ich Chaman and for shooting German Chub allegedly committed by company security.
The Fenix mine is one of the largest nickel mines in Guatemala, located in El Estor in Izabal Department.The mine has mineral deposits of about 36.1 million tonnes of ore grading 1.86% nickel
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