DOMINICAN REPUBLIC Law and Practice Contributed by: Giselle Pérez Reyes and María Virginia Ditrén Báez, Guzmán Ariza Abogados
terms, strengthening environmental and mine-closure obligations and improving institutional coordination. Although no draft has yet been formally advanced, legislative reform discussions are expected to gain momentum in the coming period. The sector will also be shaped by the State’s increas - ing focus on energy-transition minerals and rare earth elements (REEs). Through Decree No. 430-18, the Ávila area was designated a Fiscal Mining Reserve for REE evaluation, and Decree No. 453-24 created the State-owned EMIDOM to lead strategic mineral development, including REEs, either independently or in partnership with private operators. These measures are expected to drive expanded geo - logical mapping, exploratory work in REE-prospective zones and the potential creation of additional fiscal reserves or special contractual regimes. Environmental and climate regulation will continue to be tightened. Operators should expect more rigorous requirements related to water management, tailings facilities, emissions reporting, rehabilitation and clo - sure planning, aligned with national climate resilience and carbon neutrality commitments.
In the non-metallic segment, regulatory developments include the Ministry of Environment’s updated proce - dure for extraction authorisations, which now allows permits to be granted for up to two years, reflecting an effort to streamline the permitting system while enhancing regulatory oversight and sustainability performance. Overall, the sector is anticipated to remain stable but be increasingly shaped by: • the forthcoming modernisation of the mining legal framework; • the strategic development of rare earths through EMIDOM; and • progressively stronger ESG standards.
101 CHAMBERS.COM
Powered by FlippingBook