Maya Communities Demand Full Release of ICSID Award in Legacy Vulcan Case

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — Community and environmental groups say the international arbitration case against Legacy Vulcan is far from over, despite a tribunal awarding the mining company less than 1% of the more than $1.5 billion it sought from Mexico. The organizations are demanding that the full ruling be released to the public.

In a statement issued Thursday, the groups noted that the ICSID tribunal allowed Maya leader Quetzal Tzab González to participate as amicus curiae over the company’s objections, giving communities affected by limestone mining in Playa del Carmen a voice in the proceedings. Arbitrators said González had a “significant interest in the proceedings” and offered a perspective neither party had presented.

During the arbitration, the groups said they documented environmental harm from mining, including damage to the Yucatán Peninsula’s aquifer, contamination of groundwater, destruction of protected species’ habitats, and violations of indigenous communities’ rights. They argued that under international treaties and Mexico’s Constitution, the state was not only authorized to close the mine but obligated to do so to protect the human rights to water and a healthy environment.

The statement also criticized the investor-state dispute settlement mechanism under the former North American Free Trade Agreement, saying it favors corporations over communities and forces governments to spend large amounts of public money defending themselves in international arbitration. While the USMCA limited that system, Mexico remains exposed to similar cases under other investment treaties, the groups said.

The organizations are calling on Mexican authorities to publish the complete award, including the final compensation amount, the tribunal’s legal reasoning, the outcome of Mexico’s counterclaim, and the allocation of arbitration costs.

They also asked that the Felipe Carrillo Puerto Flora and Fauna Protection Area, established in September 2024 over more than 53,000 hectares, immediately receive a management plan, an advisory council with community representation, and environmental monitoring involving local residents.

The case stems from Legacy Vulcan’s ICSID claim for more than $1.5 billion after Mexico closed its limestone mine in Playa del Carmen. On July 27, Mexico’s Economy Ministry and the company announced that the tribunal dismissed most claims and awarded Legacy Vulcan less than $15 million. The full terms of the award have not been made public.