Spain has halted reopening the controversial Aznalcóllar mine near Seville following evidence of serious irregularities in the bidding process.

With an estimated 80 million tonnes of ore, the Los Frailes mine was set to restart operations later in this year for the first time since the tailings dam burst disaster in 1998.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

After completing a three-way contest, a contract was awarded in February to the Grupo México-Minorbis consortium by the government of Andalusia.

"A probe was initiated in March following the filing of a complaint in the courts by rival bidder Emerita Resources, accusing Grupo México of conducting illegal negotiations."

Under the contract, the consortium was supposed to reopen and operate the mine.

A probe was initiated in March following the filing of a complaint in the courts by rival bidder Emerita Resources, accusing the Mexican mining company Grupo México of conducting illegal negotiations, The Guardian reported.

See Also:

It was also believed that the company was engaged in allegations of bribery.

Patricia Fernández Franco, the judge heading the investigation, criticised the regional authorities for awarding the contract despite knowing the fact that the mine previously caused an ecological disaster.

In April 1998, a holding dam burst at the Los Frailes mine and released up to five million cubic metres of acidic mine tailings.

The tailings are said to have contained hazardous levels of several heavy metals, and quickly reached the nearby River Agrio, and then its affluent the River Guadiamar.

Remediation measures cost about €240m and took three years to complete.

Owned by Boliden-Apirsa, the Los Frailes mine produces about 125,000t of zinc and 2.9 million ounces of silver annually.