Pan American announced in July that it had curtailed development at the promising Navidad project in Argentina as it waits to see if changes are made in mining laws.

FORBES: Pan American 3Q Silver Output Lifted By Newly Acquired Dolores Mine; Adjusted Earnings Fall

Pacific Rim also disputes the land ownership charge, claiming to own or lease all of the lands it is required to own in order to comply with Salvadoran mining laws.

FORBES: Gold Rushes, Trade Agreements, and How Companies Sue Countries

Asked whether new laws were needed to enforce mining codes, Golborne said the laws were not to blame for the men's predicament: "The problem was that the owners did not do what they were told to, " he said.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Motsepe concedes he benefited from the system yet says that his success was no handout, as he began building his mining business before the laws started taking effect in 2005.

FORBES: Magazine Article

It involves, notably, enforcing the law (in particular laws concerning nature conservation and the mining code), making sites secure, reinforcing the operational capacity of the Congolese Wildlife Authority, reducing commercial poaching, stopping the illicit exploitation of natural resources and strengthening the efforts of peaceful evacuation of illegal occupants of protected areas.

UNESCO: MEDIA SERVICES

The criticism stems from laws that require substantial black ownership in certain industries, including mining.

FORBES: Magazine Article