Here is an article from 2004 El Diario Guayana that says this area is being set aside "at that time" for the relocation of small miners from LC:

CVG sets aside two mining lots for the relocation of Las Cristinas invaders

The Corporation is delayed while the MEM solves some pending permits, in order to define the situation

Isidro Casanova
Engineer John Madero, vice-president of Mining of the CVG stressed that once all of the permits are received, the Las Cristinas project will start

Tumeremo. Engineer John Madero, vice-president of Mining of the CVG, confirms that as soon as the Ministry of Energy and Mines solves some pending permits, the company Crystallex, the operator of Las Cristinas, will start the project, adding that the miners that are within the area of the deposit will be relocated to two mining lots, of good quality whose final study is being concluded.

He said that the lots that are being studied for the relocation are within the environs of Las Cristinas. He indicated that other miners could be relocated to lots already in production, like Bizkaitarra and others.

The informant acknowledged, in answer to the reporter’s question, that certainly, the final approval of the project is required on the part of the ministries of Energy and Mines, and Environment.

- the Ministry of the Environment is studying the environmental impact of the operation of the deposit in depth.

Engineer Madero also clarified that Las Cristinas corresponds to a contract that the Ministry of Energy and Mines granted to the CVG and that the Crystallex company is the operator.

Asked if he knew if there were sufficient [financial] resources to begin the project once all of the permits had been obtained, he responded, yes, and that in fact, the investment has already begun. “Work in the sectors of Los Rojas, Nueva Clarita, La Bolivariana, 7 Estrellas and others is already in the heat of development.”

But Las Cristinas has been invaded – “how can the project start like this?”

- two areas near Las Cristinas are being studied. They are being evaluated to ensure that they have good potential for gold extraction. The evaluation is jointly controlled with the Piar Mission. But we observed in addition, that the majority of the miners who were inside, have been retired to other mines. Only a very few are left.

EVERYTHING IS READY

Meanwhile, Engineer Humberto Cruz, general manager of Crystallex, the operating company of Las Cristinas, confirmed that the complete programming for the start of the project is underway. He confirmed that several areas have been bid on and others will enter the bid process in the coming days.

He said that even though not all of the permits have been received, the company continues to invest in services for the community. The amount invested by the company in community/social services is estimated at more than 3 billion bolivars.

GREAT ECONOMIC IMPACT

We said to engineer John Madero that in the municipalities of the South there are many who want to know when the project will start and he responded by saying that “we all have a great interest and for that reason we have presented the collections, being the delay of the final permits.”

There are many commentaries on the merits of the project with proven reserves of more than 11 million ounces of gold which can be put to use for over 20 years. It is not possible to fully quantify the proven & probable reserves and resources.