Background on Calica and its Operations
Calizas Industriales del Carmen, commonly known as Calica, is a limestone quarry company based in Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico. The company has been exporting limestone to the United States for years. However, recent developments have led to a significant ruling against Calica by the Mexican environmental authority, Semarnat.
Semarnat’s Ruling Against Calica
In a recent decision, Semarnat, the Mexican environmental protection agency, announced that Calica must restore, compensate, and rehabilitate the area it exploited as a limestone quarry in Playa del Carmen. The ruling stems from an amparo filed by Calica against environmental restoration efforts. However, the court denied Calica’s request for a suspension, marking an important victory for Mexico’s natural resource defense.
Evidence of Overexploitation
During the trial, Semarnat presented expert evidence demonstrating that Calica had been exploiting twice the authorized amount of limestone. Despite more than 50 lawsuits filed by Calica since 2022, the company has failed to secure permission for continued limestone extraction.
Systematic Environmental Violations
Calica’s actions represent a systematic abuse of the environmental regulatory framework. The company failed to acquire all necessary water concessions and never sought a forest permit. Ironically, Calica has initiated an international lawsuit against Mexico, accusing the country of the very violations it committed.
Government’s Negotiations with Calica’s Parent Company
This judicial resolution comes just a month after President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo revealed that negotiations with Calica’s parent company, Vulcan Materials Company (Vulcan), have resumed. The discussions aim to purchase both the Calica mine and Puerto Punta Venado.
Potential Future Use of the Mine
In a recent press conference, President Sheinbaum explained that the government is considering alternative uses for the closed mine, such as low-impact tourism. The government is also evaluating the cost of purchasing the land and port concession from Vulcan.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is Calica, and why is this ruling significant? Calica is a limestone quarry company operating in Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo. The ruling against Calica by Semarnat is significant because it enforces environmental restoration and highlights the company’s history of overexploitation and regulatory violations.
- What evidence did Semarnat present to support the ruling? Semarnat presented expert evidence showing that Calica had been extracting twice the authorized amount of limestone, leading to the decision to halt further extraction.
- What are the potential future uses for the closed Calica mine? The Mexican government is considering alternative uses for the mine, such as low-impact tourism, and is evaluating the cost of purchasing the land and port concession from Calica’s parent company, Vulcan Materials Company.
