Gustavo Guerrero, the Vice Minister of Environment in Colombia, proposed on September 3, 2026, that environmental licenses function differentially based on specific project conditions rather than a uniform process. ^[1] The proposal suggests that the environmental license and prior consultation could advance in parallel and autonomous paths, meaning prior consultation would no longer be a prerequisite for evaluating or deciding on an environmental license. ^[2] At the 2026 National Mining Congress in Colombia, representatives of the mining sector, the government, and private companies agreed on the need to establish clear rules, accelerate environmental permits, strengthen public-private collaboration, and curb illegal mining. ^[3] Gabriel Rondón, a former Vice Minister for Social Dialogue, criticized the proposal as being viewed from the perspective of corporate needs rather than the goal of reconciling economic development with the cultural and social integrity of communities. ^[4] Guerrero stated that the current system fails to account for specific conditions, citing the disparity between the licensing process for gas exploration and production versus a zoocriadero (animal breeding farm). ^[5] Edgar Alfonso, president of Cerrejón, asserted that a primary challenge is to regain trust in institutions and regulations, and that the new Colombian government is sending the right messages, taking decisions, and moving from rhetoric to action, which gives the company hope. ^[6] Juan Camilo Nariño, president of the Colombian Mining Association (ACM), said that despite recent difficulties the mining sector is prepared to resume growth because of global mineral demand, Colombia's geological potential, and the newly installed government, and that the industry today has the opportunity to recover its capacity to contribute to national and regional growth. ^[7] Santiago Cardona, president of the board of directors of the Colombian Mining Association (ACM), said at the 2026 National Mining Congress that the sector must unblock projects and increase investments to bring development and prosperity to the regions where it operates or could operate. ^[8]