Chile, Argentina nearing Pascua Lama tax deal

According to a recent Reuters story Jan 29 (Reuters) "Chile, Argentina nearing Pascua Lama tax deal"authorities in Chile and Argentina are very close to reaching a tax agreement that would allow miner Barrick Gold (ABX.TO) to start work on one of the world's largest gold projects, the Pascua Lama Project , a government minister told Reuters on Thursday.

The Pascua Lama Project located in northern border of Chile and Argentina was the world's largest mega-gold find , after the Cerro Caslle project in the Copiapo area. It is located about 5,000 meters in altitude is currently the largest never open gold mine with a treasure of some 18 million ounces of gold .

The project, owned by Canada's Barrick Gold Corp (ABX.TO), overcame years of environmental challenges after Barrick agreed to leave nearby glaciers untouched. The project previously has been mired in years of delays due to low gold prices in 2000-2003 after the first SEIA study, a 2nd environmental study in 2004 that were suppose to relocate 3 glaciers (ice deposits) , as well as Supreme Court with a disgruntled miner Rodolfo Villar who’s case to this day also stalled the project .

The latest delay has been because of ongoing tax dispute between the host countries and discussing how to tax what they call transborder services, or services rendered by individual companies on either side of the border. As 80% of the gold is located on the Chilean side and 20% of the mineral on the Argentina side.

Mine construction in the Andes mountains of Chile do have a narrow window of opportunity , according to Henry Martinez of Barrick Gold, “the mining season to travel to Pascua Lama is between September 15 through end of March in some very warm years you can go there as late as did April". Construction is already years behind schedule since being approved in Chile and Argentina in 2006.

Sergio Gonzalez Minister of Mining said Barrick has not given Chile and Argentina a deadline to reach a deal. Even after over two years since the project was approved by the governments by both countries.

However in Sept of 2007 during a presentation at Icare when the project was said to begin construction that Fall ,the Canadian multinational Barrick Gold, could begin to be built only in Chile, following the lack of agreement with Argentina on the tax structure would the site., " Pascua Lama has all environmental permits approved , therefore, from that standpoint, in Chile in a position to start the project if they so wish, and so agree as a company," said Gonzalez said to reporters.


However this is also not true as all permits in Chile are not 100% ready according to Placdio Avilia Comana in the 3rd Region of Chile. A letter from Lucio Cuenca of OLCA was sent to him regarding as many as 14 permits in Chile that are not ready. “
If they were do this project in Chile only they would have to enter the Environmental Impact Study again. says Placido Avila.






Another major issue as to why they can not do this project in Chile only as the minister has said according to Fernando Gray, “The water , Barrick doesn’t have enough water to do this project in Chile only. They would need about 600l/s for the water treatment plant for its use in Chile, the 40- 50 l/s that Conama and company has always said they will use , however according to Gray that is only for the part of Extration: the Pascua camp , for the roads . That it was why they move the treatment plant to Argentina because they have the water”. Fernando Gray is the former President of La Junta de Viglencia of the Hausco Valley during 1992-2004 who was part of the 8 direcotrs who signed the initial $60 million protocol with Barrick and is very familiar with the history of the Barrick Gold Company in the Hausco valley.

Another small aspect that has not been discussed in the media is that Environmental agreements in Argentina eventually expire if the project has not begun or started construction unlike Chile ‘s Environmental agreement . The agreement signed by Barrick and the Argentina government authorities on Feb 15, 2006 has expired after Dec 31, 2008 so this would also require another SEIA study in Argentina further delaying the project according to Luis Faura former concillor of Alto Del Carmen.


However in a letter from Lucio Cuenca of OLCA was sent to Placdio Avilia of Comana of the 3rd Region of Chile regarding as many as 11 sectorial permits in Chile that are not not ready and the project for this reason can also not begin . “ A majority of the 11 permits are completed or advanced”. One such example is the bypass in the area of Alto del Carmen needs to be constructed before the construction of the project.


"Imagine walking away from a major gold mine at this time," he said. "They have neither postponed nor put a deadline on this project." Barrick Gold Chairman told Reuters at the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos he expected prices for the metal to hit new record highs, spurred by serious concern about the U.S. currency and doubt about the state of the world economy.


"There will most likely be a deal very soon," Mine Minister Santiago Gonzalez said in an interview. "Progress is being made and there could be a happy ending very soon."s

What is clear with all these and many more issues not mentioned the project is still many years away from if ever begin construction.

Conversation with Micheal Hesing

(response to Santiago Times article)

Study: Chile losing its glaciers

http://www.patagoniatimes.cl/index.php/20090122728/News/Environment/STUDY-CHILE-IS-LOSING-ITS-GLACIERS.html

IN ENGLISH

What leaves me in this article is true, or more or less true. This is a fairly early stage of fighting for Pascua Lama in 2005.

When I visited the project, I took some pictures of "glaciers" El Toro 1 and 2 and Hope. In these photos can be seen that the "ice" Hope has an obvious impact of dust and there are also tracks for heavy machinery over this mass of ice. In fact, I handed these photos to the press and came across Chile and in part by the world. (I attached photos).

Having recorded this with my camera, I began to investigate, asking questions really "dumb" to the people of Barrick, but the field staff. Well, finally gets to know that the work done Barrick operating in ice, means that drilled in the ice mass of Hope. In addition I found a table in the casino of Barrick, the Barriales camp, where there was just the drill at the Hope. Well much to ask, this table disappeared quickly from the wall of the casino and then publicly denied that Barrick has gotten boring in Hope. The effects of ice on the surface were evident, as you can see from the photos attached.

However it is not, as the article says that Barrick "solid material deposited on top of the glacier," but noted that the dust was the result of activities related to exploration work.

In the famous meeting with the commission of the environment, the chamber of deputies, the debate was put together on the issue whether or not Barrick was involved ice, which the representatives of the company flatly refused. Finally I asked the legislators to me if I consist of an intervention by the ice Barrick. Obviously he knew of the involvement of ice, because the photos that sparked the fight in Chile were all mine. Therefore my collection of photos relating to the issue to the committee, which triggered a strong displeasure at Barrick. (Of course, that at this point is simply not told the truth).

I think about my article is appointed clarifying some details:

1 .- As I said, I did not say that Barrick "solid material deposited on top of the Hope, that is simply not the case.

2 .- Following these developments, glaciologists, both on the side of Barrick (Canada) and the side of the Supervisory Board of the Rio Huasco (two Frenchmen and an Argentinian) unanimously determined that in the case of Toro 1 , Toro 2 and Esperanza is relictual ice that formed in ancient times only a glacier, but today it no longer meets the minimum requirements to be called "glaciers." Especially for the loss of mass and not enough ice plasticity that allows the movement that characterizes the true glaciers. Together with this lost their accumulation and ablation zones. Accordingly to the above, the glaciologists determined that the contribution of the mass of ice water in andalusia negligible. It should be clarified in this context that while the impact of dust and ice drilling above may adversely affect the albedo and the conservation of ice, is clearly not the fault of Barrick, which today These three mass of ice and glaciers are not. This process is too slow to link it with Barrick.

3 .- The above is not contradictory with the fact that nearby Pascua Lama project has two glaciers outside of the direct influence of the project, or the Straits and the Yellow Guanaco. Both have movement, accumulation and ablation areas well defined and significant troop flows, as you can see from the photos attached.

4 .- The Barrick is impacting the waters of the farmers is stupid, because the project is not working and not even started construction. Therefore there are no tanks or rajos sterile, which can generate acid drainage. Strong generation of acid drainage in the mineralized zone of the emerging River Strait is absolutely natural (so far!) And there ever since. Sanitas as water, crystal and so on. etc. from glaciers, evoking environmentalists, are a myth. At least there is this water that was installed before the first farmer in the valley, as it is in process of geological time. I think it gives you when you were in Chile, to all the information you can check everything yourself.

Well, that about the old days. Currently Barrick submitted a Limestone Mining Project, located near Pascua Lama. The end of the project is to produce calcium Pascua Lama inputs required in the plant leaching of gold (cyanidation), since the process requires an alkaline environment. Moreover they could also be used to plant HDS, which neutralizes the acid water tank sterile. (In the background that raises the pH to precipitate metals).

The Barrick was sufficiently "side stick" to enter the Project Evaluation System as a declaration and not a study. That there is not even participation. The worst thing is that it seems that the services they want to tolerate this state of Barrick.

Furthermore I believe it is legally questionable whether they can super-boot with a DIA and no more.

One detail that Barrick is also not ruled out the use of hazardous waste, pet coke as fuel in lime kilns. Besides threatening wetland flora and fauna conservation problems and so on. etc ....

And what you think, where environmentalists are our friends? Just do not appear. Well, it seems Pascua Lama became fashionable. I took, of course, the "nuisance" to observe the project for a group of irrigators.

Currently, this presented another Mega Mining Project "El Morro" in the Huasco Valley. I was hired back as an adviser to the Supervisory Board Huasco River. This project is in full time and still do not know that we will "make clean".

IN SPANISH

Lo que sale de mi en este articulo es cierto, o mas o menos cierto. Este hecho corresponde a una fase bastante temprana de las peleas por Pascua Lama en el año 2005.

Cuando visité el proyecto, tomé algunas fotos de los “glaciares” El Toro 1 y 2 y Esperanza. En estas fotos se puede apreciar, que el “glaciar” Esperanza tiene un evidente impacto de polvos y además existen huellas para maquinaria pesada encima de esta masa de hielo. De hecho, yo entregue estas fotos a la prensa y así salieron por todo Chile y en parte por el mundo. (Te adjunto las fotos).

Después de haber registrado esto con mi cámara, empecé a investigar, en realidad haciendo preguntas “tontas” a la misma gente de la Barrick, pero al personal de terreno. Bueno, finalmente llegue a saber que la Barrick realizaba trabajos de explotación en estos hielos, quiere decir, que perforó en la masa de hielo del Esperanza. Además encontré un cuadro en el casino de la Barrick, en el campamento Barriales, donde se apreciaba justamente las perforadoras en el Esperanza. Bueno de tanto preguntar, desapareció rápidamente este cuadro de la pared del casino y posteriormente la Barrick negó públicamente que ha metido perforadoras en el Esperanza. Los efectos en la superficie del hielo eran evidentes, como tú puedes apreciar en las fotos adjuntas.

De todas maneras no es así, como dice el artículo, que la Barrick “depositó material sólido encima del glaciar”, si no el polvo que se observa era consecuencia de las actividades relacionadas a trabajos de exploración.

En la famosa reunión con la comisión del medio ambiente, de la cámara de diputados, se armó el debate sobre el tema si la Barrick ha intervenido o no hielos, hecho que los representantes de la empresa negaron rotundamente. Finalmente me preguntaron los legisladores a mi si me constará una intervención de hielos por parte de la Barrick. Lógicamente sabía de la intervención de los hielos, dado que las fotos que encendieron esta pelea en todo Chile eran mías. En consecuencia presenté mi colección completa de fotos relacionadas al tema a la comisión, lo que desató un fuerte disgusto en la Barrick. (Claro, por que en este momento simplemente no dijeron la verdad).

Creo que al respecto del artículo que me nombra hay que aclara algunos detalles:

1.- Como ya he expresado, no dije que la Barrick “depositó material sólido encima del Esperanza, por que simplemente no es así.

2.- Posteriormente a estos hechos, los glaciólogos, tanto del lado de la Barrick (canadienses) como del lado de la Junta de Vigilancia del Río Huasco (un argentino y dos franceses) determinaron en forma unánime, que en el caso del Toro 1, Toro 2 y Esperanza se trata de hielos relictos, que formaron en tiempos remotos un solo glaciar, pero hoy en día ya no reúnen las condiciones mínimas para poder ser denominados “glaciares”. En especial por su pérdida de masa ya no alcanzan la plasticidad del hielo que permite el movimiento que caracteriza a los verdaderos glaciares. Junto a esto perdieron sus zonas de acumulación y ablación. En consecuencia a lo expresado anteriormente, los glaciólogos determinaron que el aporte de estas masa de hielo al recurso hídrico en insignificante. Se debe aclarar en este contexto, que si bien un impacto de polvo y otro de perforaciones encima de los hielos pueden influir negativamente en el albedo y en la conservación de las masas de hielo, claramente no es culpa de la Barrick, que hoy en día estas tres masa de hielo ya no son glaciares. Este proceso es demasiado lento para vincularlo con la Barrick.

3.- Lo expuesto anteriormente no es contradictorio con el hecho que en cercanía del Proyecto Pascua Lama existen dos glaciares, fuera del área de influencia directa del Proyecto, el Estrecho o Amarillo y el Guanaco. Ambos tienen movimiento, zonas de acumulación y ablación bien definidas y además aportan caudales significantes, como puedes apreciar en las fotos que adjunté.

4.- Que la Barrick esta impactando las aguas de los agricultores es una estupidez, dado que el Proyecto no esta operando y ni siquiera comenzó su construcción. En consecuencia no existen rajos o depósitos de estériles, que pueden generar drenaje ácido. La fuerte generación de drenaje ácido en la zona mineralizada de la naciente del Río Estrecho es absolutamente natural (hasta ahora!) y existe desde siempre. Las aguas tan sanitas, cristalinas etc. etc. provenientes de los glaciares, que evocan los ambientalistas, son un mito. Por lo menos esta agua no existe desde antes que se instaló el primer agricultor en el valle, dado que se trata de proceso en tiempos geológicos. Creo que te facilité, cuando estabas en Chile, toda la información para que tu puedes comprobar todo tu mismo.

Bueno, esto sobre los viejos tiempos. Actualmente la Barrick presentó un Proyecto Minero de Caliza, ubicado muy cerca de Pascua Lama. El fin del Proyecto es producir insumos cálcicos para Pascua Lama, requeridos, en la en la planta de lixiviación de oro (cianuración), dado que el proceso requiere un ambiente alcalino. Además les podría servir también para la Planta HDS, que neutraliza las aguas ácidas del depósito de estériles. (En el fondo se sube el pH hasta que precipitan los metales).

La Barrick era suficientemente “cara de palo” para ingresar este Proyecto al Sistema de Evaluación como declaración y no como Estudio. Con esto no existe ni siquiera participación ciudadana. Lo peor es que parece que los servicios estatales quieren tolerar esto a la Barrick.

Además a mi juicio es legalmente súper cuestionable si pueden arrancar con una D.I.A. así no mas.

Un detalle es también que la Barrick no descarta el uso del residuo peligroso, pet coke, como combustible en los hornos de cal. A parte amenazan humedales con flora y fauna con problemas de conservación etc. etc….

¿Y que crees tú, donde están nuestros amigos ambientalistas? Simplemente no aparecen. Bueno, parece Pascua Lama pasó de moda. Me tomé, por supuesto, la “molestia “, de observar el Proyecto para un grupo de regantes.

Actualmente esta presentado otro Mega Proyecto Minero “El Morro” en el Valle de Huasco. Me contrataron nuevamente como asesora del La Junta de Vigilancia del Río Huasco. Este Proyecto esta en el momento en pleno desarrollo y todavía no se sabe que vamos a “sacar en limpio”.

Michaela

Bi-National Trato-Minero backstory

Barrick Lawyer Jose Antonio Urrutia


Director Extend Pilar Velasco



Sergio Harpa


Ex Senador (DC) Jorge Lavendero

The lobby of the Barrick Gold to exploit Pascua-Lama

The its is the lobbying by the Barrick Gold corporation for the adoption of the Treaty, that would allow the exploitation of gold in the border area of the site known as Pascua Lama. The Mining Integration Treaty between the Republics of Chile and Argentina that is Pascua on the Chilean Side and Lama referring to the Argentina side.
The lawyer for the Mining Company is Jose Antonio Urrutia who was the first lawyer to study environmental law in the US and who also drafted the first environmental laws in Chile.

Senator Jorge Lavendero who headed up the opposition against the transnational issue of companies who do not pay taxes for mining in Chile took up this issue of a Bi National Treaty.

A meeting was set up by then the Communications Company Extend and senior partner Marcelo TRivelli Oyaryun, former mayor of Santiago, invited Jorge Lavendero.

Jorge finally met under the precondition that he attend with his advisors. The meeting was finally held at the restaurant “ La Maison de France “ in Santiago. Attending the meeting were Barrick Lawyer Jose Antonio Urrutia, Lobbyist Marcelo Trivelli and Pilar Velasco of Extend and Sergio Harpa who is now head of Codelco Norte.
During the dinner attorney for Barrick Jose Antonio argument was their knowledge of the Mining Treaty came from the fact that during the nineties, Barrick had found the existence of fundamental legal instruments that enable in optimum conditions to exploit a cross border gold deposit, located in Chile 8o% and 20% in Argentina, which was described as one of the biggest in the word at the time.

Therefore, in the hope of preserving their company not only had maintained for several years, a dialogue (read: lobbying) with the highest administrative and policy of Chile and Argentina to carry out their project, they also had Mining drafted Treaty national. As commented upon leaving and his reunion, the surprising of all this was not just assembling the declaration, the governments of Chile and Argentina, had to sign a treaty that had been conceived and drafted by the transnational, but also this was done to eyes of Congress and domestic public opinion.

In the meantime, Senator Lavandero led the opposition to the treaty in Congress and in the country, toured the country from one extreme to another, alerted workers, their unions, in effect, sought support from the public, in front a state that happily resigned to their sovereignty.

However, the triumph of Barrick and its lobbyists Chileans was short lived as in 2000, the Constitutional Court declared that the Chilean courts have no jurisdiction to grant easements to mineral deposits in Argentina.
What had happened?
13 Senators -Jorge Lavandero Illanes, Fernando Cordero Rusque, Julio Canessa R., Jorge Martínez Busch, Enrique Zurita C., Antonio Horvath K., Rodolfo Stange O., Beltrán Urenda, Jovino Novoa V., Marco Cariola B., Mario Ríos S. Thirteen senators - Jorge Lavandero Illanes, Fernando Cordero Rusque, Julio R. Canessa, Jorge Martinez Busch, Enrique C. Zurita, Antonio Horvath K. Strange Rodolfo O., Beltran Urenda, V. Jovino Novoa, Marco Cariola B., Mario Rios S. y la senadora Evely Matthei F-
Signed an order for unconstitutionally Mining Treaty ,sponsored by the lawyer in July Stuardo Gonzalez. With this opinion pipelines to transport copper Argentina Chilean Ports to the Pacific were viable, the alternative for the Argentina side, towards the Atlantic, meant journey of over 1000 km with which Argentina mining projects were no longer profitable.

This chapter in the history of mining in Chile shows the complex web of influences and corruption that has surrounded the penetration of transnational companies in Chile.
Personeros the same time that a recovery was declared by Chile for copper, used in the Mining Law Constitutional Law 18,097 or mining concessions (January 21 January 1982) issued by the dictatorship to maintain a privileged status to transnational mining: unique! 18,985 law enacted in June 1990, the first of the Tax Reform Coalition, which increased the VAT, but that in practice free of income tax to foreign mining.

The same Act gives the Coalition 19 137, which allows alienate transnational CODELCO deposits that were not in operation, in open contradiction to the DL. 1167 of the military junta which banned the sale of mining concessions CODELCO. . That violated the Coalition against the dictatorship protectionist it had approved the year 1976.

Supreme flaw in a complicated trial that Pascua Lama

Article corresponding to Tuesday December 9, 2008

The high court's opinion confirms that Judge Maria Isabel Reyes had jurisdiction to adjudicate the case that faces the transnational and Rodolfo Villar mineral rights by 8600 hectares.


SANTIAGO, Tuesday 9. A complicated coup received the Nevada Mining Company, a subsidiary of Barrick Gold in Chile, for the implementation of the Pascua Lama project in the Huasco Valley, then to the plenary of the Supreme Court ruled last Friday November 28 in a case linked to the emblematic the engineer who faces trial in mines Rodolfo Villar Garcia, with the Canadian company's capital.

This is the process that weighed on the judge's 14 Civil Court of Santiago, María Isabel Reyes, and First Officer of the same body, Ulises Eagle Bar. Identified as the highest court, the judge shall apply only the disciplinary sanction of censure in writing.

In the same ruling, it states that Reyes had jurisdiction to give the opinion of first instance in 2006, which declared the nullity of the transaction whereby in 1996, Barrick Gold bought the mining rights to 8600 hectares located on Villar in the entrance area to the mega project and the gold that would have paid only $ 10,000, which was then considered laughable by the court.

"Removing the 7th considering the term" lacking - hence - of competition and also taking that Ms Mary Kokisch Isabel Reyes gave ruling in the case Rol No. 1912-01, without which it would be in condition to do so was confirmed in appeal , The resolution of June 23 this year, writing 936 pages, "says the Supreme Court ruling.

A source linked to the process, explained that with this ruling the trial which pits Villar with transnational foja zero again and have to see the faces again in the 14th Civil Court of Santiago.

"The Court of Appeals (second instance) had ruled that Judge Reyes had failed to lack of competition but precisely to eliminate that the Supreme Court, automatically suggests that it had jurisdiction and that therefore there is nothing questionable at fault as such, "he explains.

In that regard, said the same source, 14 Civil Court of Santiago should return to the first ruling in favor of Villar that nullified the contract with the Nevada Mining Company.

In the case of Ulysses Eagle meanwhile, the plenary of the Supreme Court applied tough sanctions since found that hindered the process at first instance by not carrying out two acts of shape.

"Run the merit of the background and considering that the charges against Officer First of 14 Civil Court of Santiago gift Ulises Eagle Bar have been accredited reliably, it is not sufficient claims or defenses put forward by him to call, and that the facts are an entity or gravity as to warrant the implementation of a disciplinary measure, the process of motion in the exercise of the powers that are vested this court under Article 540 of the Organic Code of Courts, becomes void dismissal decreed by the Court of Appeals of Santiago, "the ruling said.

"In its place, continuing libel applies to gift-Ulises Eagle Bar, First Officer of 14 Civil Court of Santiago, the disciplinary suspension of duties for a month, with half pay to enjoy."

With this, the high court held that the charges were fully accredited to it previously made to Eagle and that he had left without effect the Court of Appeals.

Ultimately, the Supreme Court credited the First Officer had not signed the CITES to hear verdict and had not notified the resolution in the first instance ruling by Judge Reyes, a situation that ultimately led to the Court of Appeals ruled against and raise the case to the Supreme Court.

In addition, the high court ordered the Public Prosecutor to send background, because in the course of investigating a complaint was made against the Eagles, so their punishment can be much stronger.

"Notwithstanding the foregoing resolved and considering the statements made in the process on the possible commission of an illegal criminal in the gestation of the wording of the verdict in the case Rol No. 1912-2001, please copy of this background to the ministry Public awareness and research for its relevance, "the ruling said. As of press time, Eagle was not yet notified of the verdict. Barrick Gold meanwhile, refused to refer to the subject.

Who is 100% Owner of Mina Pascua ?

After many weeks of Pascua Lama news the ongoing delays and the complicated tax issues in Chile and Argentina another story has begun to emerge from the depths of Mina Pascua. A Chilean miner living in Vancouver Canada known as Jorge Lopehandia has been filing documents to the authorizes in Chile and Canada saying that he is 100% owner of Mina Pascua.

Up until now the name of another miner Rodolfo Villar who went to the Supreme court to say he was hoodwinked by the company Barrick Gold has gotten all news coverage. The sale of his titles for 10,000 pesos or $20 US and the court case at the 14th Civil Court in Santiago which rendered the contract NULL and VOID. Barrick responded to this court decision saying it was a nucicence suit.
According to Vince Borg Senor Vice President , Corporate Communications, the lawsuit will not affect the development of Pascua-Lama.“We do not believe that the project's development will not be impacted. The claims ( Rodolfo Villar) in question do not affect the area of mineralization. They also will not affect the development of the project infrastructure,” he said.

He said he was unsure of how much exploration potential there is on these claims, but “I suspect not high.”

this was from that article " & Silver
Prospector Wins Initial Court Ruling on Barrick's Pascua Lama "
about the court case

However the little know fact is that Rodolfo Villar is an employee of Jorge Lopehandia and that Rodolfo went to sell the land title to Barrick Gold behind Jorge's back.

He was sued by Barrick Gold in Canada for libel in lawsuit the first of its kind in Canada . In order to silence and discredit him from accusations he was trying to publish online in this complicated story of Now after years in the background and himself being sued by the company for the first Internet backstabbing and raw deals.

Here is an excerpt told by Jorge to me about the deal between Rodolfo Villar when trying to sell titles as he needed money to maintain claims near Mina Pascua.

the fact is that Villar was authorized by Jorge "to dsign off as soon as John lill calls you as we have agreed to a transaction - 1996 as told by Jorge Lopehandia to Rodolfo Villar prior to Barrick ever meeting Villar or entering into business with ALEJANDRO MORENO at Pascua 1997"

"Rodolfo Villar told a lawyer Alejandro Moreno Prohens that he could not find me and needed $ to maintain claims near Pascua I sold to Barrick... MORENO told Villar NO WAY let me help I have cash... Villar gave the info to MORENO and MORENO re-claimed Villar's new discovery to MORENO'S NAME, and with this he went to Barrick to get 280 million and IN THE SAME (MORENO) CONTRACT get Villar 10,000 poesos for 8600 hectares

MORENO taught Barrick how to claim jump me after he claim jumped VILLAR

It is all in the anals of mining Registrar in Chile"...

When asked if Jorge is a claim jumper this case he responded. " No I am not a claim jumper, Barrick lost the area to its fraud to Chile and Mining Code when I claimed 1996. My areas are 100 % Mina Pascua and Vince Borg's Declaration make him liable to me and to his shareholders/banks and Chile itself.


He went on to explain more of the sorted detail

"We did not claim jump, Barrick lost the area to fraud to Chilean Mining Code and I proved this to John Lill in 1996, it was after Barrick discovered I was right that they JUMPED my AMARILLOS - correct at law discovery.... if their claims were right and I jumped their good claims... why TESOROS of Unda Lannos I seized judicially... why the rest of subsequent guanaco and burro pastures for Barrick thereat?"

In Chile there is a law against IMAGINARY CONTRACTS & TRANSACTIONS penalized with 5years 1 day per . barrick did many $10,000 pesos contracts near Pascua (self admitted in Trial in our case)

"The difference between today and last year when i sent out all this information to anyone who would listen is that I am now 100% owner of MinaPascua and I have all the documentation to prove it", says Jorge Lopehandia.

All I know is that on paper Jorge Lopehandia is the current title holder of Mina Pascua , how he got there is another story. This is a fight amongst miners ,who is the original owner and who holds the title today and who committed fraud," says Daniel Yanez freelance reporter for El Siglo who has written many articles on the Pascua Lama case and has follow Jorge Lopendia's story.

Whether or not this case gets any attention in the Chilean or Canadian media this ongoing saga of who is the rightful owner of Mina Pascua will continue. Only time will tell if the company can whether this latest storm as they have tried to maintain that everything is under control with respect to the advancements and on going delays with Project Mina Pascua (Lama).



Check back for more ongoing developments on this story .
http://pascualamaproject.blogspot.com/

LETTER TO FISCAL de CONAMA

Sr. Rodrigo Guzman, Fiscal de CONAMA CHILE,
And,
Secretarías Regionales Ministeriales (SEREMI) de Minería

Dear Sirs: Via email

Re: Cia Minera Nevada SA (“Nevada”) and Mina Pascua: Barrick Gold Corporation (“Barrick”) and the “Pascua Lama” mining project (the “Project”)


We are the solicitors for Jorge Rodrigo Lopehandia, who possesses a general Power of Attorney as noted in the margins of the enclosed mining titles to the “Amarillo Norte and Amarillo Sur” mining claims.

Our client is concerned with the activities of Nevada and its claims of ownership of the Project in Chile. As you may be aware, the Courts in Santiago have ruled on the ownership of the claims referenced, referred to as “Amarillo” and “Tesoro”. Attached is a true copy of the Tesoro Claims with the continuing Injunction noted therein, and the Court Judgments for your review and reference.

We also attach for your review and reference the following:

1. A Technical Report dated march 30, 2005 [see page 43 ,Figure 9.2] and Barrick Shareholders’ Report dated November 30, 2006 [see page 16] as published by Barrick in Canada, wherein the UTM co-ordinates of the ore body (mining pit) are indicated;

2. A Satellite Image (the “Image”) of the Tesoro Claims showing the UTM co-ordinates of the Tesoro Claims, as prepared by Golder Associates, Professional Engineers;

3. A “Mountain Image” of the Pascua Lama Project as advertised by Barrick in Chile.

From a review of the UTMs shown in the Technical Report published by Barrick, and those UTM’s shown in the Barrick Shareholders’ Report, as compared to the UTMs shown in the Image, it is clear that the Tesoro Claims (which are the subject of the “Villar v. Nevada” Court case in Santiago) contain the ore body / mining pit of Mina Pascua.

With respect, Barrick’s claims as set out in their News Release dated October 11, 2007, attached, cannot be reconciled with the Court Judgment documents nor with the UTM co-ordinates as attached.


Accordingly, we ask that you assist Jorge Lopehandia by:

1. providing Barrick’s Environmental Impact Study;

2. providing the description of the areas of the Pascua project as represented to you by Barrick;

3. request that Barrick proves to your satisfaction that Barrick or Nevada owns current valid claims that are located near the Amarillos Sur / Norte claims, that have been owned by Barrick / Nevada prior to 1996;

4. request that Barrick provide details of the UTMs of the drilled ore body and proven reserves of Pascua that were sold to Deutsche Bank AG in 2005 from the Mina Pascua (Chile) as per the attached link: ;

5. request that Barrick provide details of the UTMs of the drilled ore body and proven reserves of Pascua that were sold as Royalties to International Royalty Corporation as detailed in the link: and as referenced in the following e-letter text received from International Royalty Corporation (“ROY”):

“dateTue, Jul 8, 2008 at 8:54 AM
subjectRE: Pascua NSR Royalty purchased from Barrick: Problem


Dave,

Thank you for your interest in International Royalty Corporation. I have done some research, and according to our lawyers in Santiago, the area covered by the lawsuit you mention below” [ref: Villar v. Cia Minera Nevada] “is very far to the north of the orebody. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns on the company.

Best regards,

Jack Perkins
Director of Investor Relations
International Royalty Corporation
303 991-9500”

With respect, if what is represented by ROY is correct, which cannot be substantiated by the UTM co-ordinates referenced above, would that not put the Pascua ore body in Region IV?

Argentina expects to settle conflict for Easter Lama before end of year

Though there is agreement between the government trasandino and the Chilean in the points related to the construction and subsequent operation of the mine, has not been possible to achieve a common position on the payment of taxes.

SANTIAGO.- TO a new meeting between the Chilean authorities and Argentinas, that should be produced in October, they cited the representatives trasandinos to try to settle the approval of the Lama Easter project, the first binational mining initiative in the world and that is located in the border of the regions of Atacama and San Juan.

Though there is agreement among both governments in the points related to the construction and subsequent operation of the mine, has not been possible to achieve a common position on the payment of taxes by the indivisible cross-border services, that is to say, how the taxes by this type of transactions will be distributed.

This discrepancy has delayed enough the start of the construction, considering that the Lama Easter departure date was, originally, 2006.

To be built, Easter Lama will be one of the greater mines of gold of the world. The project is to charged of the Canadian miner Barrick, that in Chile operates the mine of copper Zaldívar and possesses, besides, the prospect gold-bearing Hill you Marry him.

"The day from today the Ambassador (Argentine in Chile) González Garcia took contact with the authorities of the corresponding area in Chile, to transmit them that to the Argentine government interests to summarize the Binational Meeting of the working Party of the Mining Treaty the next month of October in Santiago of Chile", indicated the embassy through a public communiqué.

"It is expected that of that encounter a project of Resolution arise that loosen the question of the indivisible cross-border services. In this manner, would remain open its approval on the part of the Administrative Commission of the Treaty before end of year", added the text.

In August, the authorities of both countries met in Santiago, appointment of which a proposal delivered by the business arose. Said initiative was rejected by Argentina, that considered that its eventual application wounded its own tax regulation. On, not new proposals have arisen.

More still, the administrative permissions of the Argentine side conquer in December for which, of begin not the construction in that date, they should be dealt with again, what would imply a new delay.

SPANISH version

Si bien hay acuerdo entre el gobierno trasandino y el chileno en los puntos relacionados con la construcción y posterior operación de la mina, no ha sido posible lograr una postura común sobre el pago de impuestos.

SANTIAGO.- A una nueva reunión entre las autoridades chilenas y argentinas, que debiera producirse en octubre, citaron las representantes trasandinos para intentar zanjar la aprobación del proyecto Pascua Lama, la primera iniciativa minera binacional en el mundo y que se ubica en la frontera de las regiones de Atacama y San Juan.

Si bien hay acuerdo entre ambos gobiernos en los puntos relacionados con la construcción y posterior operación de la mina, no ha sido posible lograr una postura común sobre el pago de impuestos por los servicios transfronterizos indivisibles, es decir, cómo se distribuirán los impuestos por este tipo de transacciones.

Esta discrepancia ha retrasado bastante el inicio de la construcción, considerando que la fecha de partida de Pascua Lama era, originalmente, 2006.

De construirse, Pascua Lama será una de las mayores minas de oro del mundo. El proyecto está a cargó de la minera canadiense Barrick, que en Chile opera la mina de cobre Zaldívar y posee, además, el prospecto aurífero Cerro Casale.

"El día de hoy el Embajador (argentino en Chile) González García tomó contacto con las autoridades del área correspondiente en Chile, para transmitirles que al gobierno argentino le interesa concretar la Reunión Binacional del Grupo de Trabajo del Tratado Minero el próximo mes de octubre en Santiago de Chile", señaló la embajada a través de un comunicado público.

"Se espera que de ese encuentro surja un proyecto de Resolución que destrabe la cuestión de los servicios transfronterizos indivisibles. De esta manera, quedaría abierta su aprobación por parte de la Comisión Administradora del Tratado antes de fin de año", agregó el texto.

En agosto, las autoridades de ambos países se reunieron en Santiago, cita de la cual surgió una propuesta entregada por la empresa. Dicha iniciativa fue rechazada por Argentina, que consideró que su eventual aplicación vulneraba su propia normativa tributaria. En adelante, no han surgido nuevas propuestas.

Más aún, los permisos administrativos del lado argentino vencen en diciembre por lo que, de no comenzar la construcción en esa fecha, deberán ser tramitados nuevamente, lo que implicaría un nuevo retraso.

Te Deum in Copiapo " Water is a Human Right"

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PASCUA LAMA PARALYSIS SPOOKS INVESTORS

Chile and Argentina's failure to reach an agreement on procedures for the controversial Pascua Lama mining project have jeopardized four other bi-national mining projects between the two nations, representing an investment of over US$5 billion, reported Chilean daily La Tercera this weekend. As the first bi-national mining initiative to ever occur in Chile, Canadian company Barrick Gold’s Pascua Lama project was meant to set the administrative groundwork for future exploitation of the gold and mineral rich areas straddling the border. The controversial project, first proposed 20 years ago, has been delayed for two years and counting, as Argentina and Chile continue to haggle over tax revenue allocation issues (ST August 18). The other projects hanging fire due to the delay in the Pascua Llama deal, according to El Mercurio’s report, include the Tenke Mining and CVRD’s Las Flechas project, Xstrata Copper’s Pachón project, Lundin and Jogmec’s Vicuña project and the hitherto paralyzed Amos Andrés project with Río Tinto. All of these mining initiatives are taking their lead from Pascua Lama, and Chile and Argentina's failure to come to a concrete agreement is spooking investors. Still, the obstacles for the mining initiatives have not included consideration of the large-scale environmental damage the projects entail, nor grassroots resistance to the projects (ST May 8). Though approved by Chile's National Environmental Commission (CONAMA), the Pascua Lama project involves mining under glaciers, which have already been severely damaged by Barrick’s preliminary development work. The communities downstream also face the long-term contamination of their sole water supply, resulting in Barrick’s US$60 million “pay off” to the local downstream communities to keep them in line. While the company refuses to comment, rumors within the mining sector have it that Barrick is considering cutting its losses with the bi-national agreement and making the mine exclusively on the Chilean side, which is where 80 percent of the current site lies. SOURCES: LA TERCERA By Colette Bernasconi ( editor@santiagotimes.clThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it )

"Hay algunos que quieren que Pascua-Lama no salga"

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En medio de la incertidumbre por el futuro de la mina de oro Pascua Lama, José Luis Gioja dijo ayer que "lo que por ahí hay que tener ojo, lo que no es una acusación sino una observación, y es que hay algunos interesados en que el proyecto no salga. Hay algunos sanjuaninos que no los veo bien ubicados, y especialmente algunos chilenos que tienen intereses y que quieren que solamente se haga Pascua del lado de Chile". No obstante, oficialmente son optimistas con que la mina de oro se empiece a construir en septiembre, pese a las piedras en el camino (ver aparte).

El gobernador lanzó el análisis en momentos en que el proyecto minero de oro binacional está trabado principalmente porque Argentina y Chile no se ponen de acuerdo sobre dónde debe tributar la empresa Barrick. Los avances en las negociaciones fueron relativizados por el presidente de Barrick Sudamérica, Igor González, al inaugurar el jueves último el molino eólico de Veladero: "Todavía no contamos con los acuerdos tributarios binacionales y por lo tanto, no podemos anunciar el proyecto", dijo a este diario, una frase que fuentes gubernamentales calificaron como una "presión empresarial".

Según dijo el secretario de Minería local, Felipe Saavedra, el martes hay una reunión entre la empresa y el equipo oficial encabezado por el gobernador para seguir trabajando el tema tributario. Ayer también hubo una reunión para definir los permisos sectoriales.

"A nivel nacional sabemos que el secretario de Minería de la Nación nos envía informes periódicamente diciendo que se está trabajando, que se están resolviendo estos problemas, y ellos también son optimistas, de que vamos a contar con todos los instrumentos necesarios para que la empresa pueda comenzar la construcción de la mina", dijo Saavedra. Agregó que: "la empresa tiene apuro por comenzar y sabemos que en septiembre comienza la temporada, y por eso queremos para esa fecha tener todo terminado para que pueda empezar a construir".

En esa línea, Gioja dijo "estamos trabajando y bien, haciendo todos los esfuerzos desde la provincia, y también desde la Nación para ir cerrando los problemas que existen, y confiamos plenamente que antes de fin de año vamos a estar trabajando en el proyecto".

PASCUA LAMA MINE PLANS STILL AT STANDSTILL

Plans for Chile and Argentina's first shared mining project has hit a two-year delay as Argentinean President Cristina Fernández neglected to approve Chile's tax revenue distribution proposals, Chilean daily El Mercurio reported Monday.

After months of discussions, the Chilean government had sent Fernández a project for Chile to collect 80 percent of the taxes from Pascua Lama's gold, silver and copper mining operations that straddle the Chilean-Argentinean border, given that the majority of the deposits are located on Chile's side of the Andes mountain range in Region III. Argentina has insisted on a 50-50 split of the revenue.

Chile modified its tax distribution proposal in June in Argentina's favor as a solution to the split, but Argentina still found the deal insufficient. Since Argentina is confronting agriculture strikes and fighting tax battles within its own country, the Fernández government has put the proposal aside and dialogue between trans-Andean authorities has been shut off.

As several other million-dollar projects are collecting dust within the Bi-national Commission for the Mining Deal, authorities stress that the resolution to the Pascua Lama mine is important in order for other bi-national projects to proceed.

More than 17 million ounces of gold, as well as silver and copper deposits, sit in the mine-to-be of Canadian driller Barrick Gold, who had hoped to begin a US$3 billion mine construction in September (ST May 19). But delays in the tax revenue allocation plan, various sector permits pending in Argentina and resurfacing environmental contamination concerns (ST May 8) have pushed construction plans back two years.

If Pascua Lama is constructed, Chile's second largest gold source would produce 600,000 ounces of gold and 23 million ounces of silver a year, as well as smaller quantities of copper. The mine's tax revenues would be expected to sum up to US$7 billion in total (ST Sept 12, 2007).

SOURCE: EL MERCURIO
By Elaine Ramirez ( editor@santiagotimes.clThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it )