Mexico City, Mexico — President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that the federal government has proposed that the SacTun land be used for low-impact tourism development. Sheinbaum says “there is an international panel where the final situation is being defined.”
During her morning press conference, President Sheinbaum said they are working with the owner of the SacTun (formally Calica) land, U.S. based Vulcan Materials, to be able to continue using the land but in a different way.
She said continuing to exploit the SacTun mine “is not an option” and that other alternative measures are being sought which are within the management plan for the now-protected natural area.
Sheinbaum says she will send a letter to U.S. President Donald Trump to clarify that Calica (SacTun) was not expropriated while continuing to defend the land as a protected natural area.
“There is an international panel that’s determining the final situation because Calica filed a complaint, so their procedure is still underway.
“Obviously, recovering the mine and continuing to exploit it is not an option. What options are being considered as a possible alternative? This space could be used for low-impact tourism development.
“Since the property is theirs, they would have the possibility of developing it. Everything is being worked on with the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources for alternative measures.
“They also own the port, so alternative measures are being sought that are not related to mining operations, that are within the management plan for the protected natural area and that allow them to continue using that land, but in a completely different way, as a possible alternative for negotiation, without reaching the final stage of the international panel,” she explained.
Sheinbaum explained that the communities in the area surrounding Playa del Carmen where the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) is currently working, will also need to be consulted at the appropriate time.
“Obviously, any decisions must be submitted to the communities at the appropriate time. Semarnat is evaluating it to see if there’s a possibility of reaching an agreement and not wait until the last minute of the international panel who is still reviewing the complaint filed by Calica against the federal government,” she said.
