Opposition broadsheet El Nacional reports today that Basic Industries & Mining Minister, Rodolfo Sanz is to meet managers and employees of US Hecla Mining on Thursday to discuss the reactivation of the Isidora goldmine which has been inoperative for more than a month. Sanz says his intent is to sign an agreement to resume work under better conditions pending the expiry of the concession whcih is under review.

In April, Sanz had ordered the temporary suspension of operations at Isidora on the grounds that Hecla had violated workers' rights. Hecla denied the allegations and claimed healthy & safety issues at its facilities are respected. Once activities at Isidora have been resumed, the ministry will undertake a six-month review of the CVG-Minerven deal with Hecla in an effort to improve conditions. Meanwhile Sanz has suggested that the workers resume work at the mine.

Gold production at Hecla's La Camorra fell 45% in Q1 over same period 2007,dropping from 987 kilograms to 531 kilograms ... Hecla attributes the decline to low productivity caused by work stoppages and blockades of ore transporters.

Sanz has clarified that Russian Agapov-owned Russoro is not authorized to negotiate the transfer of Hecla Isidora and La Camorra ... he says the possibility of creating a joint venture must first be raised as a central theme of President Hugo Chavez' declared policy. If Rusoro does go ahead to operate La Camorra, the government will be forced take action since they do not have permission to do so.