Bolivia: Comsur V-01/Bosque Chiquitano

Date Filed
01 Jun 2006
Status
Closed
Phase
Compliance
Country
Bolivia

Case Tracker

Eligibility
Eligibility
Assessment
Assessment
Dispute Resolution
Compliance
Investigation
Closed
CURRENT Status
Investigation (COMPLIANCE)
Closed

Complaint Overview

Complainant

Coordinadora de Pueblos Ethnicos de Santa Cruz

Concerns

Quality of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA); consultation and disclosure of information to indigenous communities; compensation.

Cross-Cutting Issues
Risk Management Biodiversity Indigenous Peoples Land Unfulfilled Commitments Project Benefits Access to Information Policy

Project Information

Region
Latin America & the Caribbean
Institution
IFC
Name & Number
Comsur V 9670
Company
Sinchi Wayra S.A.
Sector
Mining, Oil, Gas and Chemicals
Department
Other
Category
B
Commitment

$10 million

Synopsis

Complaint

The Don Mario mine is an operation of Empresa Minera Paititi, S.A., a subsidiary of Orvana Minerals Corporation, in which Compania Minera del Sur (COMSUR) holds shares. In July 2003, the Coordinadora de Pueblos Ethnicos de Santa Cruz, a Bolivian non-governmental organization, lodged a complaint with the CAO on behalf of the communities in the Bosque Chiquitano with the following concerns: - 1. An environmental impact study of Don Mario mining project in the Bosque Chiquitano was flawed; 2. Indigenous Peoples were not consulted or provided with adequate information in a timely manner nor compensated for the project's social and environmental impacts. Mining in a protected area and rare ecosystem, such as the Bosque Chiquitano rain forest, has caused considerable debate for many years, especially in relation to the exploitation of natural gas reserves. Although some social benefits are derived from the pipelines, local people do not have access to affordable gas. This situation had provoked resentment, and delays/uncertainties concerning a social fund caused distrust within the Chiquitano communities. At the time of the complaint, IFC had been involved with COMSUR for over 17 years, holding 11% equity in the company.

CAO Action

In July 2003, CAO Ombudsman conducted an assessment and concluded that it should commission an independent review of the social and environmental aspects of COMSUR operations. Subsequently, CAO Compliance conducted an audit of IFC’s compliance with its social and environmental commitments relating to the project.

Status

The compliance audit, completed in June 2004, made recommendations to IFC to ensure that: - • COMSUR develop a transparent and predictable complaint resolution process to achieve greater community engagement; • Formation of strategic partnerships to helpimprove project companies’ social and environmental performance. The audit emphasized deepening the public consultation process to ensure broader, informed participation; participatory community development planning and stronger representation of social specialists at an early stage in project decision-making. The complaint was closed in May 2005.

Case Documents

  • Assessment Report(s)
    Assessment Report
    Nov 01, 2003
    English
    Assessment Report
  • Compliance

    Audit Report(s)
    Final Report, Review of the Capacity of COMSUR
    Jun 01, 2004
    English
    Final Report, Review of the Capacity of COMSUR
    Informe Final, Evaluacion de la Capacidad de COMSUR
    Jun 01, 2004
    Espanol
    Informe Final, Evaluacion de la Capacidad de COMSUR
    Cover Letter for Capacity Review
    Jun 01, 2004
    English
    Cover Letter for Capacity Review
    Carta de Presentacion para la Evaluacion de Capacidad
    Jun 01, 2004
    Espanol
    Carta de Presentacion para la Evaluacion de Capacidad
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