Ecuador's government plans to sign exploitation and investment contracts with at least three foreign mining companies next month, Minister of Nonrenewable Natural Resources Wilson Pastor said Thursday.

Pastor said during a mining event that five foreign mining companies are expected to invest more than $4 billion over the next five years.

The minister said a windfall tax will be a major component of the negotiations with the companies.

The administration of Ecuador President Rafael Correa is negotiating with, among others, EcuaCorriente, the local unit of Canada's Corriente Resources Inc. for its Mirador project; the local unit of International Minerals Corp. (IMZLF, IMZ.T) for its Rio Blanco project; and Kinross Gold Corp. (KGC, K.T) for its Fruta del Norte project.

EcuaCorriente is controlled by China Railway Construction Corp. (601186.SH, 1186.HK) and Tongling Nonferrous Metals Group Co. (000630.SZ).

-By Mercedes Alvaro, Dow Jones Newswires; 5939-9728-653; mercedes.alvaro@dowjones.com

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