Mining Law Reform in Ecuador

In the context of the recent approval of the Organic Law on Social Transparency, the mining sector in Ecuador faces a series of reforms that significantly modify the process of granting, maintaining and overseeing mining concessions. These reforms, already in force, impose new obligations on mining concession holders, as well as greater regulatory requirements aimed at strengthening transparency and state supervision.

Among the most relevant changes are

• New requirements for access to the advanced exploration stage.
• Mandatory verification of investments.
• Reforms to the expiry regime.

These provisions seek to strengthen institutional control mechanisms, ensure the technical development of projects and guarantee that investments comply with the declared objectives.

ECIJA GPA's Energy and Natural Resources area has prepared a briefing note detailing each of these changes, their legal implications and the steps that operators in the sector should consider in order to adapt their processes to the new regulations.