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Environmental advocates and legal experts are urging the Ministry of Energy and Mines to revoke a mining exploration permit in the Cordillera Septentrional, citing violations of national laws on protected areas. This demand coincides with planned protests on January 28, 2026, against potential gold, silver, and copper extraction in the region shared by Santiago and Puerto Plata provinces. While the Ministry asserts that activities are exploratory, critics argue this is merely a formality, emphasizing that investments in exploration typically aim for future exploitation if viable resources are discovered.