El Salvador won Pac Rim claim; 2017 metal mining ban repealed in 2024
Short record: the main facts, with sources. A full case file has not been prepared.
- The record does not name which of my species, waters, soils or forests were harmed.
El Salvador won the 2016 arbitration brought by Pac Rim, an OceanaGold subsidiary, over its metal mining ban, and received $8 million in costs. The legislative assembly repealed the 2017 ban in December 2024, with 57 of 60 seats voting for repeal.
- Government of El Salvador — won the arbitration and received $8 million in costs El Salvador Perspectives
- Pac Rim — claim of more than $250 million failed; costs paid to El Salvador El Salvador Perspectives
What happened
In October 2016 El Salvador won the claim brought by Pac Rim, a subsidiary of OceanaGold, which sought more than $250 million, and received $8 million in costs, according to El Salvador Perspectives.
The country had banned metal mining in 2017.
On 23 December 2024 the legislative assembly repealed the ban, with 57 of 60 seats in favour, according to ABC News (AP).
In court and with insurers
Lawsuits and rulings
- 2016-10Defendant wonPac Rim v. El SalvadorNot named in the sources reviewed · investor-state arbitration · Pac Rim → El Salvador
El Salvador won the arbitration in October 2016 and received $8 million in costs; the claim exceeded $250 million. El Salvador Perspectives
Insurers
What we don't know
Nature
- Not measured Harm to nature: The record holds no measurement of harm to nature.
Record
- Insufficient Reported but not verified: President Bukele said studies found 50 million ounces of gold in about 4% of the potential area.
- Insufficient Reported but not verified: a poll found 61% of respondents expected mining to harm the environment.
- None on record The sources reviewed do not name the arbitral forum or case number.
Did the harm stop?
Not stated in the sources reviewed.
Who paid?
Not stated in the sources reviewed.
Sources
Press and investigations
- El Salvador's congress approves ending ban on metals miningABC News (AP) · 2024-12
- El Salvador wins gold mining arbitrationEl Salvador Perspectives · 2016-10-15
Connected cases
- El Salvador lifts its 2017 ban on metal mining El Salvador · 2017–2024
- Pac Rim (Company) — here: claimant; there: claimant in a lost investment arbitration over the ban
- Legislative Assembly of El Salvador (Government) — here: repealed the 2017 ban in December 2024; there: voted to lift the ban
- El Salvador enacts foreign agents law taxing foreign funding at 30% El Salvador · 2025
- Government of El Salvador (Government) — here: respondent; there: Enacted the foreign agents law