EPA permit 'ready' for Marudi mine
Stabroek News
July 16, 2004
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is close to granting an Environmental Permit to Romanex Guyana International, a subsidiary of Vannessa Ventures Mining, for a large-scale gold mining operation in the Marudi Mountains.
According to a source from the EPA, the permit is now being drafted and is to be finalised some time before the end of this week.
The Canadian-owned concession is located in the eastern portion of the Marudi Mountain, some 40 miles from Lethem in Region Nine.
The EPA official said that after meeting with the consultants last Tuesday to iron out remaining matters, the deal is almost done and the agency is satisfied with the work of the consultant in adhering to the prescribed measures.
Stabroek Business understands that the EPA had forwarded comments on aspects in which it had reservations, and that these were being addressed by the consultant performing the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
The final Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for the Marudi Mountain Gold Mine had been submitted to the EPA in May and the Environmental Assessment Board (EAB) held meetings to review the study's findings.
The gold mine, which is a subsidiary of Vannessa Ventures Limited, plans to have an annual yield of 40,000 ounces of gold, worth US$1.5M.
The investment of US$5M to US$7M is for a period of seven years. Small amounts of silver would also be produced.
Vannessa Ventures Limited held a series of meetings in the various communities and had contracted labour from the South Rupununi with an aim to upgrading bridges leading to their gold prospecting concession.
According to the Region Nine Regional Democratic Council (NDC), contracts have already been awarded to various southern local Amerindian communities for the construction of 15 bridges, which cut across the jungle trail to Marudi. Communities in close proximity to the proposed area are Aishalton, Krowdar & Lumedpaw, Achiwib, Marunawa, Waruwaunawa, Shea and Kuiwini.
Stabroek Business understands that in recent months the EPA conducted other consultations with the local leaders and presented a draft of the EIA done of the area to them. Vannessa Ventures Limited proposes to use a froth flotation method for gold ore recovery and processing.
In the draft EIA, the company said that no harmful substances or chemicals would be used in the mining or processing of gold. Resident Manager of Vannessa Ventures Limited James Stonehouse said the mine would have a 97-person workforce that is 95% Guyanese with residents given preference.
According to Stonehouse, the company has some of the equipment already in the country and it is being used by Vanarde Mining Inc., also a Vannessa subsidiary.
This company does gold and diamond mining in the Potaro River. Stonehouse said that more equipment would be procured after the company begins operations.