Deterritorialization and Reterritorialization of Water: Mechanisms of Domination and Appropriation by Mining Companies in Zacatecas, Mexico

Abstract

This article examines the mechanisms of water ownership and appropriation by two mining companies in Zacatecas, Mexico, identifying two distinct business strategies. Grupo Bal operates through multiple scattered concessions with moderate extraction volumes (570 m³ per year), whereas Newmont/Goldcorp concentrates its operations in the Peñasquito mine with a higher extraction volume (34 800 000 m³ per year). For an in-depth analysis of the conditions and specificities of the mining companies operating in the State, research was conducted using documentary sources, and information requests submitted to government agencies. The results suggest that these strategies have triggered deterritorialization and reterritorialization, primarily affecting marginalized rural communities. The research shows how companies have established power relations with governments to facilitate their access to water, despite the water shortages in the regions where they operate.