Ascendant’s opponents drop OECD complaint

Groups opposed to Ascendant Copper‘s (ACX-T) Junin project in Ecuador have withdrawn a complaint with the Canadian government alleging that Ascendant breached Ecuadorian law, engaged in inappropriate political activities, and did not adequately disclose information on its activities.

The complaint, submitted in May 2005 to the Canadian Department of International Trade by three groups, including Defensa y Conservacion Ecologica de Intag (DECOIN) — an Ecuadorian environmental organization — was withdrawn because the groups say the complaint was not being taken seriously.

Though a meeting between the company and its opponents, mediated by Canadian officials, had been arranged for late January, the complainants were frustrated that the department rejected their request for an open meeting. They also say the department was not following the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) procedures for resolving complaints.

DECOIN executive director, Carlos Zorrilla, says opposition to the project will continue through legal action and by working closely with local governments and communities.

On Dec. 10, 2005, Ascendant’s Florida farm facility, 8 km from the Junin site, north of Quito, was burned down in protest by between 70 and 300 people from neighbouring communities (T.N.M., Jan. 20-26/06).

“We were looking forward to addressing the concerns of the complaint through the Canadian government as a respected third party,” says Ascendant CEO Gary Davis.

The company says it is committed to upholding international standards in the development of the Junin project, estimated to hold 20 billion lbs. copper, as well as “consulting with communities directly affected by the operations according to Ecuadorian law and international best practices for community consultations.”