Canadian mining company, Guyana Goldfields Inc., recently noted that it acquired an Environmental Permit from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its underground mining project. But during an interrogative session with the Guyana Standard today, EPA Head, Dr. Vincent Adams clarified that the Permit is for the collection of data and not the construction of an underground mine.
Guyana Goldfields did not make this pellucid in its statement to the press. (Company’s statement can be read here: https://www.newswire.ca/news-
Nonetheless, Dr. Adams said, “They (want) to construct an underground mine and in order to do that, they have to get technical information on the soil, the water, infiltration etc. You need that data. They can’t just go and construct that mine without knowing what is underground and what is in the air. That is what they are doing with this permit…they will then use that data in the final design of the mine.”
The EPA Head confirmed that Guyana Goldfields also needs the agency’s approval to use its final design for the mine. “So this (permit) is not for mining construction,” added Dr. Adams.
He said, too, that the company is still in the process of putting together proposed regulations for underground mining which will be attached to its permit. These will be taken from Canada which has some of the world’s most stringent regulations on underground mining.
“So with the data, the final design and the proposed regulations, they will put together a proposal for approval,” the EPA Head said.
In a statement to the media, Guyana Goldfields said that works will commence immediately and a budget of US$2M has been approved for the early works phase. The company is also finalizing the review of bids received for the underground development contract with the target of final award in the second quarter of 2019.
In addition to this, the company, which is traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX), said that the permit allows for test-mining of up to 350,000 tonnes that could potentially provide supplemental mill feed during the development period and further unlock value at the Aurora Gold Mine.
