Economía de las Tierras Raras: Factores para el desarrollo tecnológico y económico de Ecuador

• Tito Cedeño-Loor https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6583-1233
• José Folgado-Fernández https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2917-0938
• Sorhegui-Ortega Rafael https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7882-5246

DOI: https://doi.org/10.31876/rcs.v32i.45830

Palabras clave: Tierras raras, gobernanza minera, política de minerales, modelo MICMAC, Ecuador

Resumen

La siguiente investigación analiza los factores que condicionan el desarrollo de una cadena de valor de tierras raras en Ecuador mediante la aplicación de la técnica MICMAC a treinta y cinco drivers definidos a partir de literatura científica y de entrevistas a 25 expertos. Los factores de mayor poder de impulso pertenecen al ámbito institucional y de inserción internacional; mientras que la mayoría de los factores técnicos, geológicos, de infraestructura, mercado y operación, se comportan como dependientes. No emergieron factores de enlace, lo que indica que el sistema se percibe en una fase preindustrial, dominada por decisiones políticas más que por cuellos tecnológicos. La ruta política debe estar encaminada a corto plazo, la estabilización y publicación de un marco legal y fiscal para tierras raras, asegurar un catastro transparente, fijar la estrategia de tierras raras a acuerdos comerciales y reconocimiento internacional de estándares de desempeño Ambiental, Social y de Gobernanza, y reforzar los mecanismos de transparencia y anticorrupción. Ecuador tiene margen para construir ventaja competitiva, pero es una ventaja de gobierno, no solo de recursos geológicos. En conclusión, si se planifica una buena ruta desde lo institucional, el resto de las variables reaccionará a favor del mercado de tierras raras.

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