Mining Concession Halt Will not Impact Cerro Caliche: Sonoro Gold

Canada-based gold company Sonoro Gold says that its operations in Mexico will not be impacted by the recent announcement from President Claudia Sheinbaum to halt the awarding of new mining concessions. The company adds that it holds full title to its projects' concessions and is not seeking new ones, adding that, because open-pit mining will not be banned, the project's viability is maintained.

The announcement came after Sheinbaum announced the continuation of former President López Obrador's policy of halting new mining concessions in late 2018. President Sheinbaum confirmed that no new mining concessions will be granted during her term. She also clarified that while open-pit mining would not be completely prohibited, all current and future mining projects will be evaluated individually based on their environmental impact, as reported by MBN. “Two weeks after we took office, I said the initiative had issues because banning all open-pit mining would mean prohibiting, for example, sand mines for construction or salt mines,” Sheinbaum states.

Sonoro Gold says that this policy does not impact its current projects, as the company is not seeking new concessions. “Sonoro Gold holds 100% title to the concessions for both its Cerro Caliche and San Marcial projects in Sonora, and the required Environmental Impact Statement (MIA) for the Cerro Caliche project is under review by SEMARNAT,” reads Sonoro Gold’s press release. The company adds that the Cerro Caliche project complies with all regulatory requirements and expects to receive project approval. 

Sonoro Gold's Position Amid Policy Shifts

Sonoro Gold's projects appear well-positioned to navigate Mexico's evolving mining regulations. With the government confirming that open-pit mining will not be prohibited and that the policy focus is on new concessions, Sonoro's existing projects, Cerro Caliche and San Marcial, are not directly impacted. 

The company's position reflects a cautious optimism shared by some industry players regarding President Sheinbaum's administration. This view is largely based on the appointments of her Ministers of Economy and Environment, who are perceived by the sector as holding moderate, pragmatic views.

Minister of Economy Marcelo Ebrard is recognized for his experience in international negotiations and advocacy for public-private partnerships. Recently, he has emphasized a new phase for Mexican mining focused on reducing import dependence on key minerals to strengthen sectors like automotive and energy. Meanwhile, Minister of Environment Alicia Bárcena has centered her policy on ecosystem restoration and sustainability

The Cerro Caliche project is an open-pit gold-silver mining project spanning a 1,400ha area. The March 2023 Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) outlines indicated resources of 19.9Mt containing 280,000oz of gold at 0.44g/t, 2.24Moz of silver at 3.5g/t, and 290,000oz of gold equivalent (AuEq) at 0.46g/t. Inferred resources are 10.5Mt with 140,000oz of gold at 0.42g/t, 1.35Moz silver at 4g/t, and 150,000oz of AuEq at 0.44g/t. 

The project design includes a downstream conveyor belt to transport ore from the mine to the process plant, reducing dust and noise generation, CO2 emissions, fossil fuel consumption, and operating costs. The plan also includes filling shallow pits with waste rock during operations and using organic waste for composting. 

Sonoro Gold plans to put the Cerro Caliche project into production to fund further resource expansion. According to its 2023 PEA, the initial phase is a nine-year open-pit operation, and the company notes that only 30% of the mineralized zones have been drilled. Keneth MacLeod, CEO, Sonoro Gold, says that once the final environmental permit is received, the mine could pour its first gold within 13 months. "In my opinion, this is the easiest project in Mexico to bring into production, with few obstacles compared to any of the other projects we have evaluated in the country," he noted during the Mexico Mining Forum PDAC 2025.