Barahona Province
World's only larimar source (55,000 lbs exported 2024); former Salt Mountain (world's largest deposit); coal plant retirement planned by 2030-2035.
Barahona Province contains the world's only source of larimar—a blue pectolite gemstone found exclusively in the Sierra de Bahoruco. Over 2,000 shafts have been sunk at Los Chupaderos since 1974, extracting more than 55,000 pounds exported in 2024 alone to China, Switzerland, Peru, and India. Salt Mountain, west of Barahona city, was once the world's largest known salt deposit before mining depleted the massive 16km solid salt block. Bauxite from Alcoa operations (1959-1983) built the infrastructure that modern industry inherited.
The province's mining history sits alongside organic agriculture. Coffee and cocoa grow in the mountain slopes, while organic bananas contribute to exports. A free trade zone focused on textiles provides manufacturing employment, and the Barahona Carbón coal plant—scheduled for retirement by 2030-2035—signals the energy transition ahead. Mining resources here are among the Dominican Republic's most significant, alongside Sánchez Ramírez and Pedernales.
By 2026, Barahona faces twin transitions: replacing coal power with renewables while professionalizing artisanal larimar mining. If sustainability initiatives improve mine safety and conservation practices while renewable energy investment arrives, the province could modernize its extractive economy. If coal retirement occurs without replacement energy sources and larimar mining remains informal, Barahona may sacrifice current livelihoods without gaining new ones.