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The Dominican Republic commercializes nickel as the most important
mineral in terms of revenue. However, ferronickel is the leading
export commodity in the mining industry. There are important deposits of
gold, silver, copper,
bauxite, marble, salt, gypsum, limestone and construction material
in the northern and southeastern regions.
Falconbridge Dominicana in Bonao, near Santiago de los Caballeros,
is the largest mining firm, exploiting ferronickel from nickel laterite
deposits.
Canadian mining companies have taken great interest in gold
and silver in Pueblo Viejo mine, one of the largest in
the Western Hemisphere. A joint investment between Toronto based
Barrick Gold Corporation and Vancouver-based Goldcorp Inc. is working
in the expansion and construction project that aims to raise the
plant's production to 24,000 tons daily.
Amber and larimar are two semi-precious stones
that keep increasing the demand in foreign markets. Larimar mines
are located in Barahona and the southwestern region.
Foreign investment is increasing. The government provides great facilities and infrastructure to attract investors, expecting to increase employment sources. Mining industrial parks projected to have attractive tax incentives for investors.
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