VHeadline Venezuela News: Officials from Venezuela's Defense, Environment and Basic Industries & Mines ministries, attending a special meeting of the National Assembly's Parliamentary Committee on Energy & Mines, have heard committee chairman, Anzoategui deputy Angel Rodriguez clarify that a series of discussions have been held to give impetus to a major thrust to improve the nation's mining industry.

National Armned Forces (FAN) Col. Archimedes Moreno told the committee that mining operations in the southern part of Bolivar State are very fragile and vulnerable from an ecological point of view and that mercury, arsenic and other chemicals left behind by illegal miners (garimpieros) have already caised "incalculable damage." There is also the fact that the national economy is being seriously affected by the uncontrolled quantity of precious minerals leaving the mining zones without payment of regulatory taxes, smuggled over the border to Brazil and Colombia, exascerbating an already difficult situation for the Venezuelan military to maintain control in the southern jungles.

Committee chairman Angel Rodriguez said that Bolivar State is of strategic importance to the nation because of its the supply of water and minerals and that effortsd should be made to safeguard territorial security and defence. He added that he expects government agencies to coordinate actions to counter and regulate the environmental damage, economic and social impact of mining in Bolivar State to boost and improve the quality of life of miners and bring to an end the problems created by irregular mining activities.