The little planning and dispersal prevailing in the national mining caught the attention of the Government, which this year decided to implement joint policies across ministries of Basic Industries and Mining and Environment to rescue this activity.

The office of Environment, led by Yubirí Ortega, prepares the final details of management plans that define the areas where they allow the exploitation of minerals, in order to reduce the ecological impact of activity and clearly establish the location of concessions .

Regarding the exploitation of gold, Deputy Minister of Environment, Merly Garcia, reported that shall be limited only to 4 million hectares forming Cuyuní River Basin, east of Bolivar state.

"The areas where the mining will operate will be defined in terms of management plans of the rivers and Caroní Cuyuní. And from these plans will identify areas suitable for exploiting minerals. The gold will be limited to the basin Cuyuní, "said Garcia when leaving a meeting in the Committee on Energy and Mines.

Even if a part of the Imataca Forest Reserve is in the basin Cuyuní, Deputy asserted that to protect the lung plant Guyanese, in this jungle area not allow mining activities.

"We must be consistent with our environmental policy.

If we talk about the risks of climate change and make efforts to recover the forest reserves, falling into a contradiction if we do not protect the Imataca reserve, "he said.

Deprived on alert. The future of concessions to exploit gold to the Canadians who aspire Crystallex and GoldReserve is uncertain. Garcia did not say what will happen to these companies that have their gaze fixed deposits at Las Cristinas and Brisas, respectively.

Last May these two companies were informed that the Government rejected the environmental permit-the only thing they faltapara the mining project to be undertaken. Month and a half later, the office of Environment reported that Crystallex to reconsider the decision to grant the licence to exploit the largest gold deposit in the country.

To that end, the company should optimize social projects in the area; mitigate the effects of mineral deposits in the affected areas of Imataca, and improve sanitation plans when you finish the life of the mine. The Canadian company is still awaiting the final verdict.

Rusoro-through its subsidiary Promotora Minera Guiana, PMG-state CVG and Minerva are the only ones who exploit gold in the country, after the departure of U.S. Hecla.

Choco 10 and Isidora, the two deposits of El Callao operating PMG, are in the area bounded by Basin Cuyuní, so there's no greater risk arising disqualified when the environmental clearance define the areas of exploitation.

The case of Crystallex is different. The mining company still hopes that the Government clarify whether the sector Sifontes municipality, which expects to run its mining project, will be authorized to exploit the gold ore.

The Minister of Basic Industries and Mining, Rodolfo Sanz, started mining the audit in April to anticipate the introduction of new production model that will govern the activity, based on the formation of joint ventures in which the state CVG has the majority shareholder.

Since 2006 it is expected that the National Assembly or the President approves the new Mining Act, which will repeal the system of concessions granted by the Republic and give way to the model of joint ventures.

However, the State has already begun to implement this model with the Russian mining Rusoro.

After the U.S. Hecla sold for $ 25 million deposit on their rights to Rusoro Isidora, the release of Basic Industries was associated with it to exploit gold.

Investment by the soil. The uncertainty persists between the private mining maintains braking injection of capital into the sector. "The issuance of environmental permits is a major constraint to stop the development of mining," said Gilberto Sanchez, president of the Mining Chamber during the assembly of Fedecámaras.

The spokesman of the guild believes that the Government before amending the Mining Act passed in 1999, should take care to comply, because the existing instrument allows the joint enterprise. Sanchez disagrees with the State wants to take the majority share of all joint ventures, but recognizes that this is the purpose of the Venezuelan authorities.

In managing Hugo Chávez has not been approved any concessions to extract minerals. "This is a key sector in providing resources for manufacturing and construction. It is important to encourage it," added Sanchez.