LatinNews Daily Report - 12 February 2013

ECONOMY | Mining protests. On 10 February Nicaraguan police reported that 47 people had been arrested and 17 police officials injured in day earlier clashes with anti-mining protesters in El Cafetal, municipality of Santo Domingo, in the central department of Chontales. Protests against the development of a new (sector-4) high-grade gold zone by Canada’s B2Gold erupted in September 2012 amid concerns about water contamination. Local artisan miners say that they could lose their livelihood if the new B2Gold zone goes ahead. B2Gold operates two of the country’s three main mines - El Limón and La Libertad, both in León department. The government led by President Daniel Ortega has prioritised the mining sector as key to future economic growth. In 2012 gold exports were worth an estimated US$431m, second only to coffee (US$519m).