Labor Union claims AHMSA may be sold to Chinese and Korean Investors

By: Jose G. Landa

The Mexican National Mine Workers Union, Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores Mineros, announced that Altos Hornos de Mexico, S.A.B. de C.V. (AHMSA) may be sold to Chinese and Korean investors, alleging AHMSA’s President and Chairman of the Board, Alonso Ancira Elizondo, has held sale discussions with Chinese and Korean companies interested in buying Mexico’s largest steel and coal producer headquartered in Monclova, Coahuila, Mexico.

The former government owned AHMSA was sold to private investors forming Grupo Acerero del Norte, S.A.B. de C.V. (Grupo GAN) by the Mexican government under then Mexican President Carlos Salinas de Gortari. GRUPO GAN is based in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico and its two principal shareholders are Alonso Ancira Elizondo and Xavier Autrey Maza. Grupo GAN is the parent company of AHMSA.

Locally, Dos Republicas Coal Partnership, a Texas partnership owned by two Texas corporations who in turn are owned by Mexican subsidiaries of AHMSA, is seeking before the Railroad Commission of Texas to renew, revise, and expand Permit 42A, Eagle Pass Mine, to develop, construct, and operate a  surface coal mine only 3.5 miles north from the City of Eagle pass city limits in the densely populated Maverick County region of FM 1588 (Thompson Road), deer Run Subdivision, Elm Creek Subdivision, South Elm Creek Subdivision, Siesta Acres, Seco Mines, Hopedale, Hopedale Estates, Coahuila Vista, Kypuros Road, Weyrich Farms, Ritchie Farms, Radar Base, and other subdivisions.

The Railroad Commission of Texas has scheduled a public hearing on Dos Republicas Coal Partnership’s application to commence on January 30, 2012, in Austin, Texas.

At previous Railroad Commission of Texas public hearings, Dos Republicas Coal Partnership representatives have stated AHMSA is the parent company of Dos Republicas Coal Partnership and have presented powerpoint presentations and/or data to the Railroad Commission of Texas, the City of Eagle Pass, and the Eagle Pass Chamber of Commerce to that effect.

Local governmental entities, including the City of Eagle Pass, Maverick County, Maverick County Hospital District, Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas, Eagle Pass Independent School District, Eagle Pass Water Works and Sewer System, Maverick County Republican Party, and thousands of maverick Countians oppose the renewal, revision, and expansion of Dos Republicas Coal Partnership’s application of Permit 42A, Eagle Pass Mine.

Should AHMSA be sold to Chinses and/or Korean investors, it is unknown yet how it might effect Eagle Passans and Maverick Countians regarding Dos Republicas Coal Partnership’s Eagle Pass Mine.

Source: http://www.epbusinessjournal.com