Through resolution ARCOM-DE-2025-0035-RM, the Agency for the Regulation and Control of Mining (the “ARCOM”) issued the new Guidelines for the Preparation of Cadastre Reports and Certifications, which apply to all administrative procedures involving the granting, modification or termination of mining rights in Ecuador.
This regulation updates and systematizes the requirements, technical parameters, and procedures for issuing cadastre reports, overlap verification reports, and certifications of area availability and non-affectation, all of which are essential inputs in concession and mining area management processes.
1. Objective of the Guidelines
To establish clear and standardized procedures for the preparation of technical documents issued by the Mining Cadastre and Registry Directorate and ARCOM’s Zonal Coordinations, reinforcing the technical rigor, traceability, and legal certainty of these administrative actions.
2. Scope of Application
Mandatory for:
- The Mining Cadastre and Registry Directorate.
- ARCOM’s Zonal Coordinations.
- Technical units responsible for cartographic inputs.
Applicable to procedures such as:
- Mining concession applications.
- Area reforms, unifications, and reductions.
- Declarations of termination of mining rights.
- Technical verification and inspection processes.
3. Types of Regulated Technical Documents
The guidelines cover the issuance of:
- Cadastre Report on Total or Partial
Affectation
- Technical Report on Overlaps
- Certificate of Area Availability
- Certificate of no harm to certain areas and infrastructure
Each document must include: boundaries, geo-referenced maps, technical metadata, issue date, professional signature, and digital support files (e.g., shapefile, PDF).
4. Traceability, Interoperability, and Control
All reports and certifications must be prepared using official systems integrated with the National Mining Cadastre.
Data must be stored in digital institutional repositories with audit capabilities.
The designated professional is responsible for the accuracy of cartographic and technical inputs and must sign and seal the documents.
5. Mandatory Technical Standards
The guidelines define parameters for mapping, symbology, scale, analysis layers, geodetic accuracy, and cartographic quality.
The use of WGS 84 geographic coordinates is mandatory.
Reports must identify overlaps with existing concessions, protected areas, exclusion zones, easements, public roads, and more.
6. Effective Date and Final Provisions
All conflicting prior regulations are repealed.
Operational manuals will be issued to support technical implementation.
For more information, please do not hesitate to contact us.
This bulletin contains a summary of legal developments of interest, and therefore cannot be considered as provided advice. If you have any questions, please contact the AVL Abogados team.
