Top 10 Costa Rica

Costa Rica leader won’t reverse mining concession

Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla has ruled out the possibility of reversing a decree allowing an open-pit gold mine to resume operations near the border with Nicaragua.

Chinchilla said Tuesday that overturning the decree would mean paying $1.7 billion compensation to Industrias Infinito, the Costa Rican affiliate of Calgary-based Infinito Gold Ltd.

Chinchilla’s predecessor, Oscar Arias, signed a decree in 2008 declaring the project of national interest.

However, the project has been halted by a court battle over its legality.

Environmentalists say the area involved is part of the protected habitat of the great green macaw. They also say the project violates Costa Rica’s constitutional rules on the environment.