Colombia: Reforms bode well for investors, but social opposition to mining remains the biggest hurdle President Ivan Duque has big plans for the mining sector, and investors are behind him. But while he may help operators by reducing excessive red tape and accelerating licensing processes, social opposition to projects will remain the pebble in his shoe.
In September, the government proposed a new bill that would both limit the cases in which the prior consultation of indigenous communities is required by law; and stop them from vetoing projects outright. This would significantly reduce the social risks faced by extractive operators in indigenous areas. However, we expect push-back from indigenous groups.