Torex Gold Receives Crucial Environmental Permit for Media Luna

The Canadian mining company Torex Gold announced that it obtained the environmental permit (MIA) for the Media Luna project from Mexico’s Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT).

The so-called MIA Integral enables the company to start its operations at Media Luna and is based on a modification SEMARNAT received in 2021, which allowed for the execution of development activities on the south side of the Balsas river. Additionally, the company received approval to increase the power draw at the site to 45MW. 

“The receipt of the MIA Integral represents another key milestone in the de-risking of the Media Luna Project, and further demonstrates the ongoing support of local communities and the endorsement of State and Federal Governments of both the social and environmental facets of this project,” said Jody Kuzenko, President and CEO, Torex Gold.

In its 2021 Report, the company stated that its main environmental achievements were obtaining environmental permits for the early construction work at the Media Luna project, zero reportable environmental spills, the signing of the International Code for Cyanide Management (ICMC), the adoption of the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management and 100 percent compliance with environmental regulations.

“With the MIA Integral in hand, the company now has all the environmental approvals required to develop and operate Media Luna. Discussions about future in-pit tailings deposition and expanding the exploration boundaries are ongoing,” added Kuzenko. 

Moreover, the mining company recently received approval to increase the power draw at its Morelos assets to 45MW to accommodate activities at both  El Limón Guajes (ELG) and Media Luna. Torex is discussing with authorities to further increase the power draw to 65MW, which is required to sustainably deliver full-scale production at Media Luna.  

The Media Luna project started its development in 2016 with an investment of US$800 million. “The funding encouraged employment, investment and the inclusion of local companies into the mining supply chain thanks to this large-scale project that will definitely consolidate the mining sector as the second backbone of the state’s economy,” said Faysal Rodríguez, Vice President, Torex Gold. 

Torex Gold has an 8.5MW solar plant at its Morelos property near its ELG and Media Luna projects. The company signed an agreement with Scatec, an energy company, in 2021 to develop the plant and reduce Torex’s scope 2 emissions while reducing energy costs.

Regarding social matters, the company achieved industry-leading safety performance with a lost-time injury frequency (LTIF) of 0.14 per million hours worked. For the fourth consecutive year, Torex received the ESR 2022 distinction from the Mexican Center for Philanthropy and the Alliance for Corporate Social Responsibility in Mexico, and the Company was also the recipient of the 2021 Safety Award from Mining Magazine.