Nicaragua published eight mining concessions covering 63,607 hectares for a company whose major shareholder had met the ruling family's son weeks earlier, Confidencial reports
Subject of this story
What happened
Confidencial reports that Nick Candy, second-largest shareholder of London-listed Metals Exploration and treasurer of the UK's Reform UK party, met Laureano Ortega Murillo, son of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, in Managua on 16 March 2026, with Energy and Mines Minister Salvador Mansell present. About ten days later, Metals Exploration's subsidiary La India Gold S.A. applied for eight mining concessions totaling 63,607 hectares, which Nicaragua's official gazette La Gaceta published between 6 and 11 May 2026. Candy's spokesperson told the Financial Times he 'had no involvement' in the application or the grant, and Metals Exploration said it began acquiring the concessions in 2025 and that they were agreed in principle before the March application. The Ministry of Energy and Mines has not commented. Confidencial notes its own table lists nine entries, so the count is inconsistent. Other outlets give different figures: La Prensa reported seven lots totalling about 69,538 hectares as of May 8 (later about 70,459 hectares with an eighth entry), and EFE reported three concessions totalling 48,898 hectares on May 8; some reports also date the Candy meeting March 19 rather than March 16.
Sources (1)
Response
Contacted — no response by publication.
Not yet contacted for this story.
Not yet contacted for this story.
Not yet contacted for this story.
Not yet contacted for this story.
What happened next (0)
No outcome recorded yet.