Facts:

• Mirador is Ecuador’s first large-scale open-pit copper mine, operated by Chinese-owned Ecuacorriente S.A.
• The mine is part of Ecuador’s national strategy to boost economic growth through mining exports, expected to bring in over $4.6 billion by 2030.
• Processes 60,000 tons of rock daily

Environmental Risks:

• Two massive tailings dams are located in a seismically active area, raising the risk of collapse and toxic spills.
• Acid mine drainage has contaminated rivers with heavy metals like arsenic and selenium, threatening ecosystems downstream.
• Over 3,200 acres of rainforest have been deforested, affecting biodiversity and contributing to carbon emissions.

Effects:

• Endangered species and fragile ecosystems in the Amazon basin are under threat.
• Indigenous communities face water contamination and loss of access to clean rivers and forest resources.
• If a tailings dam fails, it could cause an environmental disaster affecting thousands and polluting one of the Amazon’s tributaries.

Last updated: Apr 2025