Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. has been granted by Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales a twelve (12) year extension of the environmental impact authorization (“EIA”) at the San Jose Mine, located in Oaxaca, Mexico.
Fortuna appealed the decision of the authority which denied the San Jose Mine EIA extension application (refer to Fortuna news release dated November 11, 2021). After continued dialogue and technical evaluation, SEMARNAT confirmed operations at the San Jose Mine are conducted in accordance with all environmental obligations under the EIA. Following confirmation of compliance, SEMARNAT reassessed Fortuna’s application and granted the extension on the existing EIA terms.
Environmental audits
The San Jose Mine has been the subject of 13 environmental audits by Procuraduría Federal de Protección al Ambiente (“PROFEPA”), most recently in early December 2021, and has never been cited for pollution or environmental damage. The operation sources its industrial water requirements from the Ocotlán Sewage Treatment Plant and the capture and storage of rainfall.
The mine, the single largest employer in the region of Valles Centrales, provides direct employment to over 1,200 people which includes approximately 15 percent women. The Company has sustainable development initiatives with various neighboring communities and works with over 150 small local enterprises. Fortuna continues to maintain transparent and constructive dialogue with local stakeholders and authorities and operates adhering to strict environmental standards.
Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. is a Canadian precious metals mining company with four operating mines in Argentina, Burkina Faso, Mexico and Peru, and a fifth mine under construction in Côte d’Ivoire. Sustainability is integral to all our operations and relationships. We produce gold and silver and generate shared value over the long-term for our stakeholders through efficient production, environmental protection, and social responsibility.