The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE) has called for the shelving of the proposed Law for the Strengthening of the Strategic Sectors of Mining and Energy, currently under consideration by the National Assembly. President Marlon Vargas highlighted concerns that this bill weakens the processes for prior consultation, eases environmental controls, and puts essential water resources and territorial rights at significant risk. He articulated that the proposal significantly favors large extractive companies over the collective and environmental rights acknowledged in the Constitution.

In a public message shared on X (formerly Twitter) on February 15, Vargas stressed the potential dangers this law poses to the country. He indicated that the mining-energy law initiative pushed by the government reduces the rigor of prior consultations, substitutes required environmental licenses with mere authorizations, and simplifies the granting of long-term concessions for mining projects. These changes, he warned, could lead to detrimental impacts on Indigenous communities and the environment as a whole.

The implications of this proposed legislation extend beyond immediate environmental concerns; it reflects a broader tension between economic development pursuits and the rights of Indigenous populations. Vargas’s call to action against this bill underscores a felt urgency among many in Ecuador to safeguard their ancestral lands and resources from exploitation by powerful corporate interests, suggesting a potential escalation in protests or mobilization among Indigenous groups if the law proceeds as planned.