http://www.mineweb.net/mineweb/view/...

snip...

However, the political ill winds which had stymied the Brisas copper-gold project and other foreign-owned gold projects in the Bolivar state may be shifting, allowing Belanger to negotiate from a position of strength. While Venezuela's Ministry of the Environment had originally blocked gold projects, citing potential environmental impacts on the Imataca Forest Reserve, the agency's attitude has apparently changed reportedly due to pressure from the Chavez Administration.

Merly Garcia, Vice Minister of Environmental (MinAmb) management and administration, recently said that Venezuela will limit gold mining in Bolivar state to a 4 million hectare drainage area of the Rio Cuyuni near the mining town of Las Claritas and east over the border into neighboring Guyana. The government will reportedly limit mining activities to the jungle region of the Imataca Forest, according to a report by Bloomberg News.