🇸🇻 El Salvador's General Assembly, led by President Bukele's Nuevas Ideas party, has passed a new mining law repealing the previous metallic ban. This law grants the state a monopoly on metallic mining, allowing foreign companies to partner with the government to extract an estimated $3 trillion in gold. Bukele argues this wealth could improve the nation's economy and quality of life while ensuring environmental protections by banning harmful substances like mercury. However, environmentalists express concerns about the potential ecological impact, with some doubting the accuracy of Bukele's gold reserve claims. International geologists have been invited to assess the situation. ⛏️