Más oro, menos empleo. Bonanza minera de Nicaragua esconde expansión del extractivismo
La minería se convirtió en la actividad económica de mayor crecimiento en Nicaragua, impulsada por el alza del precio internacional del oro. Sin embargo, los datos oficiales muestran que este auge no se traduce en más empleo ni mejores salarios, mientras se expanden las concesiones y se profundizan los riesgos sociales y ambientales.
TL;DR
- Nicaragua's economic activity grew by 7.2% by September 2025, primarily driven by mining (21.2%), construction (15.6%), and hospitality (9.9%).
- Gold exports increased significantly, with revenues rising by 87% in the third quarter and 49.2% overall for 2025.
- The surge in mining revenue is attributed to higher international gold prices, not an increase in export volume.
- Over 1.7 million hectares of land are concessioned for mining, with many new concessions granted to Chinese companies, often in areas previously designated for reserves or held by other firms.
- Despite the mining boom, formal employment in the sector is limited, with industrial mining producing few jobs and artisanal mining operating largely informally.
- Salaries in the mining sector remain below the cost of the basic family basket, and thousands of informal miners lack social security or labor protections.
- Environmental concerns are significant, including the potential damage to protected areas and indigenous territories, with less stringent environmental impact assessments required for new projects.
- The growth in mining is seen as a concentrated boom with high social and environmental costs, rather than widespread development for the nation.