In this region, a proposed open-pit mining project pits the interests of a private company against those of neighboring communities. Ecologists and residents from municipalities in the northeast of Segovia have condemned the plan for its potential environmental and aquifer effects, as the region near the border with the Community of Madrid awaits the fate of a large quartz mine.
Ecologistas en Acción issued a statement highlighting that ERIMSA, a company based in A Coruña, has requested permission from the Junta de Castilla y León to operate an open-pit mine spanning more than 2,700 hectares. This expansive undertaking would extend across a broad swath of land believed to be of mining interest, with ecologists noting that the superficial layer of soil involved averages about 1.62 meters in thickness.
Mining would affect a substantial area, described as roughly 1,600 football fields, and would impact six municipalities over the next three decades: Barbolla, Sotillo, Castillejo de Mesleón, Cerezo de Arriba, Cerezo de Abajo, and Duruelo. The ecological assessment emphasizes the scale of disruption tied to the mining operation and the potential consequences for the landscape and local ecosystems.
The project’s stated purpose is to extract materials for industrial quartz, with the ultimate objective of exporting refined quartz gravel to international markets, including destinations such as Norway. Ecologists stress that this external orientation underscores the broader economic and environmental stakes involved for the region.
Neighbors organize a local platform
Residents in the affected area have voiced concerns about the scope and duration of the exploitation, particularly regarding risks to groundwater and aquifers. In response, the platform established under the banner of Against the Open Pit Mine convened its first meeting in Cerezo de Abajo. The project’s proximity to the Duratón river’s protected zones adds another layer of environmental sensitivity, as the area is part of the Specially Protected Area ZEC-ES41600849.
The platform argues that the open-pit approach would harm livestock, agriculture, environmental tourism, and the well-being of local residents. They warn of yield losses on agricultural lands, heightened erosion, potential water pollution, and the broader erosion of natural landscapes, flora, and fauna. These changes, they contend, would ripple through the regional economy as a whole.
Although the mining company claims that the project will create about thirty jobs, local stakeholders contend that the submitted documents enumerate only six positions, raising questions about the project’s promised benefits and the distribution of employment opportunities.
Further concerns focus on the long-term environmental footprint. After extraction, remaining materials may be reburied on-site, but ecologists argue that the system could still compromise the integrity of the Duero Hydrographic Confederation. They point to possible deep-seated changes in soil structure and porosity, and to broader implications for Natura 2000 sites within the affected zone.
Ecologistas en Acción has identified this project as among the most environmentally impactful mining proposals in the past two decades and has called for a rejection of the application on grounds of ecological sustainability and regional resilience.
The company’s position and assurances
ERIMSA has framed the proposal as a modern, sustainable mining model designed to protect environmental resources while maintaining land fertility. The company asserts that the operation would be compatible with animal husbandry, agriculture, tourism, and forestry. It also notes a long history of quartz mining across Castilla y León and Galicia, emphasizing cooperative relations with neighboring landowners and communities over forty years of activity.
The company argues that its operating model differs from traditional mining. It describes a soil sieving approach intended to separate the fertile soil layer first, then process material at a shallow depth to leave on-site less than 40 millimeters of material. The goal, according to the company, is to restore the fertile layer and relevel the terrain to its original state, thereby preserving agricultural productivity and local land uses.
Despite these assurances, discussions continue about how such standards translate into real-world outcomes for soil health, groundwater reserves, and biodiversity, particularly in a region where agriculture and ecotourism play important roles in the local economy.
The public conversation around the project also centers on the balance between economic development and environmental stewardship. The debate touches on the potential for job creation, land preservation, and the long-term costs and benefits of mining activity in sensitive river corridor environments.
As the permitting process unfolds, community groups, ecologists, and local authorities are watching closely to see how the project aligns with regional conservation priorities, water management frameworks, and sustainable land use planning. The outcome will likely influence future mining proposals across similar landscapes in the area and beyond, highlighting the ongoing tension between development aspirations and environmental safeguards.
The discussion surrounding this mine reflects broader questions about how best to manage mineral resources while protecting water supplies, habitats, and the health of nearby communities. It also underscores the importance of transparent stakeholder engagement, rigorous environmental impact assessments, and careful consideration of long-term regional resilience in the face of industrial pressures.