I think it is an issue with Ortega and while she is still the minister I doubt that she will budge. She has no mining experience or knowledge but obviously someone has convinced her that open cast mining is ugle and bad for the environment but underground is OK.

Of course from a reclamation point of view, the big issues are the tailings and waste dumps which occur with both methods, not the actual hole in the ground which will be lakes when they are finished. (they may even be lakes before then if the pumping can't keep up LOL...)

Ortega doesn't get that, and she has never been on site so her objectivity is rather suspect.

If we get a reshuffe of the ministries , which has been rumoured, then things could change quite suddenly. JMHO...