EPA issues permit to Aurora Gold for underground mining

Mar 01, 2019 News

Aurora Gold Mine (AGM) has been given clearance to begin underground mining.
The Canadian company was given the all-clear a week ago, according to Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman.
He made the disclosure during a tour of AGM’s Mazaruni operations yesterday.
“I am happy the government was able to issue the final permits for the underground mining… last week the EPA issued that,” said Minister Trotman.
He said the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) had cleared the mine plant before.
“So, we were awaiting EPA’s approval for the environmental part… the two regulatory agencies are separate and should be kept separate, and so I’m happy that on their own the EPA was able to come around and see that this is a good and viable project,” the Minister noted.

Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman with South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources, Godfrey Oliphant, his delegation and Management and staff of Aurora Gold Mine at the company’s Mazaruni operations.

Minister Trotman toured AGM’s Mazaruni operations with the South African delegation headed by Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources, Godfrey Oliphant.
South Africa has shown interest in mining operations in Guyana. Both states are to sign a simple Declaration of Intent to enter into a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for; training and capacity building, strengthening of both countries’ regulatory frameworks, enhancing value-added capabilities, geological surveying and mapping of Guyana’s resources and environmental preservation and modernisation of mining techniques and practices.”
In the meantime, the South African Deputy Minister said he was very impressed with the mining operations at Aurora.
“Mining at Aurora is the way of the future… this is what South Africa wants… mines in South Africa represents the past, but we are more interested in the future,” the South African Minister noted.
Both ministers lauded the company’s health and safety efforts and records, as well as the emphasis it has placed on “female inclusion” in the workplace.
Aurora Gold Mine now has a 16 percent female workforce.
Through a project called the “women learning to operate heavy-duty machinery”, womenfolk are being encouraged to take up more jobs traditionally held by their male counterparts.
Minster Trotman lauded the project, stating “it stands out well in what is expected to come in the future”. (DPI)

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