"'No to mining': activists demand closure of Guatemala gold mine", 20 April 2024

...Residents fear that the Cerro Blanco site, which has been granted permission by Guatemala to convert from an underground to open-pit mine, will contaminate Lake Guija...

The previous Guatemalan government in January gave approval to Canadian owner Bluestone Resources to turn Cerro Blanco into an open-pit mine, just days before right-wing president Alejandro Giammattei left office.

The government of El Salvador expressed "serious concern" about the move.

On Thursday, Guatemala's new government said it was seeking to reverse the decision due to what it called "anomalies."

Opponents say the site poses a serious threat to the environment.

"The use of chemicals in mineral extraction is greatly damaging our natural resources and the Cerro Blanco mine is no exception," Salvadoran environmental campaigner Ricardo Navarro said...