Amid a surge in illegal gold mining across Colombia, Aris Mining has adopted a novel strategy: rather than pushing informal artisanal miners away, the Canadian firm is bringing them into its operations.
Collaborative Strategy Over Confrontation
Aris has formed formal partnerships with around 2,500 small-scale miners, who now contribute roughly 45% of the gold processed at its Segovia mine. The company provides these miners with financial support, planning assistance, and enhanced safety measures—in exchange for purchasing their gold directly. This approach, according to CEO Neil Woodyer, enhances both production and community relations:
“We add our skills and our technical knowledge, and we pick up their local knowledge and community support. We enhance our social license and at the same time we get additional production.”
Scaling Up with Purpose
Aris isn’t stopping there. The partnership model is being expanded to its Marmato operations, including the use of company tunnels by informal miners. With this integration, Aris projects that 20% of future capacity will be fueled by these collaborations—helping the company edge closer to its goal of doubling gold output to 500,000 ounces annually.
Turning a Crisis into an Opportunity
The gold price spike has ignited a broader crisis: illegal mining operations have flourished, often outpacing revenues from illicit narcotics. Criminal groups have taken control of territories, leveraging gold’s liquidity to fuel violence and environmental destruction. In this environment, Aris’s strategy stands out—not only for its pragmatism, but for its social and operational benefits amid chaos.
“The partners we have are against the bad guys,” Woodyer remarked. “So they actually are a defense and help us because it undercuts the bad guys.”
A Divergent Path in Industry Approach
This collaborative model sharply contrasts with that of others—particularly Chinese firms operating in Colombia—which have faced violent disputes when attempting to exclude informal miners. Aris’s approach reflects a deeper understanding: that meaningful partnerships can foster stability, safeguard communities, and maintain production continuity, even in volatile contexts.
The Bottom Line
Aris Mining’s embrace of Colombia’s artisanal miners represents more than just a pragmatic pivot—it’s a timely redefinition of how responsible mining can coexist with informal economies. By combining formal operational systems with community-based knowledge and presence, Aris is building a resilient, inclusive, and higher-yield mining model—one where gold production and social license go hand in hand.