Mining
Gold, copper, silver, concessions
47 articlesEcuador Cuts Mining-Fee Revenue Forecast to USD 44M as Exploration Is Excluded
Ecuador reduced its projected annual mining-fee revenue from USD 220 million to USD 44 million after excluding exploration-stage concessions from the control fee. The revised framework, in force from June 26, adds 300 mineral-processing plants and recalibrates payment timing for 2026.
ARCOM Proposes Cutting Mining-Fee Target to USD 44M and Excluding Exploration
ARCOM is circulating a reform to Ecuador’s mining supervision fee that would cut projected collection by roughly 80%, from USD 221.75M to USD 44M. The proposal would exclude initial exploration, advanced exploration and economic evaluation projects, addressing one of the mining sector’s main investment-cost objections.
Ecuador Seeks 100% Mine Self-Generation in Cascabel and Mirador II Renegotiations
Ecuador is seeking contract addenda for the Cascabel and Mirador II copper projects, with power self-generation as a critical condition. The government wants new mines to cover 100% of their power demand as industrial mining could add at least 4,468 MW of electricity demand by 2035.
ARCOM Attack in Machala Raises Risk Around El Oro Mining Controls
An explosive attack affected the ARCOM office in Machala on the night of June 12, 2026. Authorities linked the incident to 88 illegal-mining operations in El Oro, adding a security-risk layer to mining enforcement in one of Ecuador's active control zones.
Orellana Illegal-Mining Operation Destroys Equipment Worth Estimated $1.2M
A military operation in Orellana caused an estimated $1.2 million loss to illegal mining structures, according to the Defense Ministry. The intervention destroyed camps, excavators, suction motors, classifiers, generators and 2,660 gallons of fuel.
Ecociencia Identifies 111 Mining-Affected Hectares in Protected Areas
Ecociencia identified 111 hectares affected by mining inside protected and conservation areas in Zamora Chinchipe. The report monitored four case studies from 2011 to 2025 and points to enforcement pressure in Ecuador’s southern Amazon mining corridor.
Energy Minister Says Cascabel Mining Contract Will Be Renegotiated
Ecuador's energy minister said the Cascabel exploitation contract will be renegotiated, Primicias reports. The project carries a 33-year mine-life plan, approximately $4.2B in expected investment, a 4,979-hectare concession and Chinese control after Jiangxi Copper's SolGold acquisition.
Cerro Azul Order Tests Ecuador Mining Cadastre Reopening After Eight-Year Freeze
Ecuador's mining cadastre reopening moved back into focus after a ministerial agreement tied to Cerro Azul, Primicias reports. The order directs Arcom to begin a gradual and progressive opening for small mining of aggregates and stone materials in the Guayaquil-Daule-Samborondon corridor.
Mining Exports Reach $1.381B in Q1, With Fruta del Norte and Mirador at 75% of Value
Ecuadorian mining exports reached $1.381 billion through March 2026, up 65% year over year, according to Primicias. Fruta del Norte and Mirador represented 75% of mining export value in the quarter.
Cangrejos Gold Project Pays First $34M in Advance Royalties; Total Obligation Set at $54M
ODIN Mining confirmed payment of $34 million in advance royalties at contract signing for the Cangrejos gold project in El Oro. The company will pay $54 million in total, with remaining installments tied to plant construction, tailings facility construction and start of operations.
Ecuador Signs First Open-Pit Gold Mine Contract: Cangrejos at $1.648B Investment, 26-Year Term
Ecuador's government formalized the exploitation contract for Cangrejos — the country's first open-pit gold mine and the world's 13th-largest undeveloped primary gold deposit. Chinese-backed Odin Mining Ecuador (CMOC subsidiary) will invest $1.648 billion across a 26-year contract in El Oro province.
Army Dismantles Illegal Mining Camp in Puyango, Loja — Mercury Seized Near Bosque Petrificado
The Ecuadorian Army dismantled an illegal mining camp in Puyango canton, Loja province, near the Bosque Petrificado and Río Puyango. Seizures included mercury, water pumps, and an unidentified white substance; no arrests reported.
Cangrejos Gold Megamine: CMOC/Odin Mining Contract Signing Targeted for H1 2026, $34M Upfront
Ecuador's third large-scale mining exploitation contract — the Cangrejos gold project in El Oro operated by CMOC Group subsidiary Odin Mining del Ecuador — is expected to be signed in H1 2026. The state will receive $34 million on signing with $54 million in total anticipated royalties. Production capacity is projected at 11.5 metric tons of gold annually.
Lundin Gold Executes Silver Stream Agreement with LunR Royalties — Fruta del Norte
Lundin Gold Inc. executed a definitive silver stream agreement with LunR Royalties Corp. for the Fruta del Norte gold mine in Zamora-Chinchipe province. LunR will acquire the life-of-mine silver stream in exchange for 50.5 million LunR common shares, which Lundin Gold intends to distribute to its shareholders as a dividend in kind.
Ecuador Mining Reform Law Active Since March 2 — Key Changes for Operators and Investors
Ecuador's reform law on strategic mining and energy sectors entered into force on March 2, 2026, introducing significant changes to the mining legal framework. Key provisions include the creation of integrated mining clusters, state protection for strategic mining areas backed by the Armed Forces, a revised royalty framework, and streamlined permitting processes designed to attract new investment.
Llurimagua $3B Copper-Molybdenum Tender Expected This Year After Codelco Exit
Ecuador's state mining company Enami plans to launch an international tender this year for the $3 billion Llurimagua copper-molybdenum project in Imbabura province, following the exit of Chile's Codelco from the joint venture. The project, containing an estimated 5.2 million tonnes of copper equivalent, represents Ecuador's largest single mining investment opportunity.
Mining Reform Enters Force — $10-$15B Investment Pipeline, Lundin Gold Commits $100M
Ecuador's mining reform law entered force on February 26, 2026, establishing a modernized regulatory framework designed to unlock an estimated $10-$15 billion in mining investment. Lundin Gold has committed $100 million to expanded exploration drilling at Fruta del Norte, while the broader industry plans 133,000 meters of drilling across key concessions. The reform simplifies permitting, enhances security provisions for remote operations, and revises the royalty structure.
Mining Reform Law Opens $10-15B Investment Pipeline for Ecuador
Ecuador's mining reform law, effective March 2, 2026, following a 77-70 National Assembly vote, overhauls the regulatory framework with a variable 3-8% royalty scale, a 100% self-power generation mandate, and the reopening of the metallic concession registry frozen since 2018. The Llurimagua copper-molybdenum project -- estimated at $3 billion -- will proceed to international tender, while the February 4 Critical Minerals Ministerial recognized Ecuador as a strategic minerals source, unlocking up to $10 billion in US EXIM/DFC financing.
ENAMI Prepares International Tender for $3B Llurimagua Copper Project
Ecuador's state mining company ENAMI is preparing an international tender for the Llurimagua copper project in Imbabura province, a $3 billion development with a 982 million-tonne resource capable of producing 210,000 tonnes of copper annually over a 27-year mine life. The tender follows the resolution of arbitration with Chile's Codelco, which was awarded $25.3 million of a $567 million claim.
Lundin Gold Targets 475,000-525,000 oz Production, Launches $85M Exploration Campaign
Lundin Gold released 2026 guidance targeting 475,000-525,000 ounces of gold production from its Fruta del Norte mine in Zamora-Chinchipe province, with throughput increasing to 5,500 tonnes per day. The company is investing $85 million in a 133,000-meter exploration drilling program and expects to make a development decision on the FdN South deposit in H1 2026.