In Guatemala, the Canadian multinational Aura Minerals has reactivated its Era Dorada gold mining project, which has faced significant backlash throughout its 29-year history. Residents near the mine have reported water shortages and attribute them to the mine's excavation activities, which involve pumping large quantities of geothermal water. Although the mine's development was suspended in 2013, water extraction continued in subsequent years. In 2021, Bluestone Resources, which acquired the project from Goldcorp, announced a controversial plan to convert it into an open-pit mine. A community referendum rejected the project, but the mining site has resumed operations under Aura Minerals, which predicts an annual production of 111,000 ounces of gold in the first four years. Locals fear the project's return may bring wider consequences, including water shortages and environmental damage. Aura Minerals has pledged to develop the project as an underground mine and implement measures to mitigate environmental impact.