By Julia Symmes Cobb
MEDELLIN, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Colombia will begin takingoffers in its first bidding round for gold exploration contractsin early 2022, the head of the national mining agency said onTuesday, as the Andean country continues efforts to diversifyits mineral output.
Colombia has long hailed its as-yet largely untappeddeposits of gold and copper, among other minerals, as the futureof its mining industry, especially amid output and pricetroubles for coal. "What we expect is to have the first mining round for goldat the start of next year," Juan Miguel Duran told Reuters onthe sidelines of the Colombia Gold Symposium in Medellin.The areas to be offered in the round are dotted around thecountry, Duran said, and will be subject to counter-offers.The agency will discuss potential projects with localcommunities and governments, Duran said, with a view tosmoothing the way for companies which win contracts.
It will also provide initial technical information and begincontact with environmental regulators.
"All this helps the investor to have much more information,"he said. "It's the first time that we as an agency, as a miningauthority, are proposing areas, we're not waiting to getproposals on specific areas."
Pre-qualification does not oblige companies to participateand allows them to bid in future rounds.
Duran would not give an estimate on how much potentialinvestment the round may attract.
Large-scale mining projects in Colombia face significantregulatory and security hurdles.
AngloGold Ashanti said last month its Quebradonacopper project will be delayed by the shelving of anenvironmental permissioning process. Meanwhile, China's Zijin Mining has said production at itsBuritica project - purchased in 2019 for $1 billion - is beingseriously affected by the presence of illegal miners. Colombia opened five copper areas for bids earlier thisyear. One, in La Guajira province, was awarded to Carbomas SASin September on a 30-year contract.
(Reporting by Julia Symmes Cobb; editing by Richard Pullin)