for those of you who have been around a long time...you'll remember the last time this happened...this comes from jwalling (yahoo)...read it carefully....nothing new in my eyes...
UPDATE 1-Venezuela shuts door on new gold mines
15 May 2008 15:56 ET
(Recasts, updates with comments from minister, adds details)
CARACAS, May 15 (Reuters) - Venezuela on Thursday shut the door to new gold projects and threatened other mining and logging concessions, in a new step by left-wing President Hugo Chavez to tighten control of natural resources.
The ban on mining in the mineral-laden Imataca Forest Reserve forest reserve and end to permits for open pits was a blow to Crystallex and Gold Reserve . The Canadian companies have long been seeking environmental permits to exploit their concessions in the reserve.
Environment Minister Yuviri Ortega said the South American nation also was revising all mining and timber concessions.
"Venezuela will deny environmental permits for open-pit mine exploitation," Ortega told Reuters. "Neither private or public companies will for now explore Imataca's gold."
Imataca Forest Reserve, in the remote south-east of the Venezuela, contains what is believed to be one of Latin America's largest gold deposits.
(Reporting by Ana Isabel Martinez, Writing by Frank Jack Daniel) ((frank.daniel@reuters.com; +58 212 277 2656; Reuters Messaging: frank.daniel.reuters.com@reuters.net)) Keywords: VENEZUELA MINES/
