“Disproportionate exploitation reported at the San Cristóbal mine: Bolivia receives only crumbs for its resources,” March 22, 2025.

The San Cristóbal mine, the largest in the country and one of the world’s leading producers of zinc, lead, and silver, continues operating amid questions about the true size of its profits and the real benefits it provides to Bolivia.

Managed by the Japanese transnational Sumitomo Corporation, the mine exports large volumes of strategic minerals without full transparency regarding the revenues it generates.

“It is unacceptable that one of the richest mines in the world gives the country only a fraction of its profits while taking our wealth abroad,” declared a representative of the Potosí Civic Committee.

Beyond the economic concerns, nearby communities have denounced the environmental impact of mining activity, especially the intensive use of water in an arid region and the contamination of soil.

“While we suffer from a lack of water, the company extracts millions of liters per day for its production,” said a representative of the affected community.

In response to these complaints, various sectors have once again raised the possibility of renegotiating the contract or even nationalizing the mine, following the example of other countries in the region that have regained control of their strategic resources.