Nicaragua has ceded 8.5% of its territory in mining permits to Chinese companies
A report by the NGO Fundación del Río indicates that the Government of Nicaragua has granted mining concessions to Chinese companies covering 8.5% of the national territory, including protected areas and indigenous territories, for the exploration and exploitation of metallic minerals.
TL;DR
- Nicaragua has ceded 8.5% of its territory (1,013,225.44 hectares) to Chinese mining companies.
- Concessions include protected areas and indigenous/Afro-descendant territories.
- Fifteen Chinese companies have been granted mining concessions between 2021 and 2026.
- Thomas Metal S.A., Brother Metal S.A., and Zhong Fu Development S.A. are among the largest concession holders.
- Chinese firms often lack verifiable credentials, stock exchange listings, and evidence of experience or investment.
- Chinese interests extend beyond gold and silver to 'critical' and strategic minerals like copper, cobalt, molybdenum, uranium, and nickel.
- Nicaragua's legal framework has been modified to benefit Chinese mining investments and circumvent U.S. sanctions.