The Ministry of Energy and Mines published a package of 12 resolutions this Friday that reorganize the mining concessions regime in Cuba, with measures ranging from term expirations to long-term extensions and the granting of a new concession, all outlined in the .
The regulations, signed by Minister Vicente de la O Levy between August 7 and September 11, are based on Law 76 "Mining Law" of 1994 and impact areas distributed throughout the country, from Pinar del Río to Holguín.
Seven extinctions in different provinces
The largest portion of the package corresponds to the termination of concessions whose deadlines have expired. The extinguishes the geological research concession of Cementos Moncada S.A. in the El Salado-I area, in Santiago de Cuba, after the three-year period to evaluate bentonite clay has elapsed.
The cancels the exploitation concession for coral-conchiferous limestone in Ampliación Jaimanitas, municipality of Caimito, Artemisa, to the Cuban Marble Company, after 25 years of validity since 2001.
Another five resolutions (52, 53, 54, 55, and 56) terminate concessions in Arcilla Malcasado and Piedra El Palomar (Villa Clara), Las Delicias (Sancti Spíritus), San Antonio de Cabezas (Matanzas), and Arena Bahía Banes (Holguín), the latter belonging to Inversiones Gamma S.A., which was researching marine sand for beach rehabilitation.
In all cases, the ministry declares the areas "free zones" for new mining applications and requires concession holders to settle tax and environmental debts, as well as to compensate for the damages caused.
Extensions of up to 25 years
In the opposite sense, three resolutions extend ongoing concessions. The extends the investigation of kaolinitic clays in the La Anita area, La Palma, Pinar del Río, until August 26, 2028, in favor of the Geominera Pinar del Río company, to complete work aimed at producing supplementary cementitious material.
The extends the exploitation of porphyry in the Ampliación Arriete area, Palmira municipality, Cienfuegos, for an additional 15 years — until December 24, 2041 — to the Construction Materials Company of that province.
Resolution 50/2026, for its part, extends the exploitation of organogenic limestone in the Capellanía area, Artemisa, until November 27, 2051.
New gypsum concession and temporary closure in Pinar del Río
The grants a new concession for the exploitation and processing of gypsum for 25 years to the Construction Materials Company of Matanzas in the Yeso Matanzas area, covering 65.59 hectares in Santa Cruz del Norte, Mayabeque. The concessionaire will pay a fee of 10 pesos per hectare per year and a royalty of 1%.
The most striking measure due to its economic background is the , which authorizes the mixed company MINERA DEL CARIBE S.A. a total temporary closure of four months at the Polimetálicos Castellanos-Santa Lucía concession, in Minas de Matahambre, Pinar del Río.
The resolution itself acknowledges that the halt is due to "external technical and economic causes related to logistics, export, and the energy deficit" that prevent the continued exploitation of the deposit, which produces lead, zinc, gold, and silver.
The closure of that mine —one of the country's most significant metal operations— will remain in effect until January 30, 2027, by which date the concessionaire must have implemented the work program and the measures established for the reopening.
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