It is understood that the court will shortly issue a written order demanding an immediate halt to further activity at the opencast mine and refinery. Fenix is near the town of El Estor, on the shores of Lake Izabal, Guatemala’s largest expanse of fresh water. The lake is an important breeding ground for wildlife including crocodiles and manatees, a freshwater mammal suffering population declines across the region. In the hills above Izabal, there are about 20 Mayan villages, some of which do not appear on official maps, within the 250,000 sq km area covered by the Fenix licence. Responding to the ruling, the Swiss group said: “Solway’s operational activities are always performed in accordance with the law.

Source: The Guardian July 19, 2019 17:03 UTC