Vheadline cites El Mundo

Government's silence forces Crystallex to take dispute to the Supreme Court

Since Vancouver-based Placer Dome (PDG) was replaced by the (likewise Canadian) mining corporation, Crystallex International, in 2002, the Canadians have not been able to get the Venezuelan government to approve the vital environmental permit to proceed, and it is the only requirement that's needed to begin to exploit the gold where proven reserves are estimated in the region of 17 million troy ounces.

Since the Director General of Environmental Permits at Venezuela's Environment Ministry rejected their application in April 2008. the Canadian mining company introduced a new application but this was also rejected. Any decision remains in the hands of Environment Minister Yuviri Ortega Lovera.

In a communique issued in May 2008, Crystallex said that (Venezuelan) legislation provides that it may appeal to a range of legal remedies to be applied both in Venezuela and abroad to protect their interests. Canadian commercial attache, Louis Poisson, expressed concern for Canadian companies saying "Canada has always maintained excellent relations with Venezuela" but that it would be difficult to encourage Canadian under the terms of its original mine operating contract with the state-owned Venezuelan Guayana Corporation (CVG) although he insisted that the company is in compliance with all clauses in its contract clauses with the CVG, in particular those related to social improvements in the locality. He did, however, say he is waiting for a response from the Minister, and is "optimistic about the outcome."

Meanwhile, illegal mining is still taking place in the vicinity of Las Cristinas and central government is taking its time to take control of the mine, after last