Licence extension linked to gold mine ‘to be based on scientific data
CONSIDERATION on whether to extend Akara Resources’ metallurgy licence will be concluded within two weeks, based on neutral and standard scientific data certified by the Science and Technology Ministry, the Industry Minister has said.
A team from four ministries yesterday visited Chatree gold mine in Phichit to inspect the mine and get information from both opponents and supporters of the gold mine.
The officials were led by Industry Minister Atchaka Sibunruang, Public Health Minister Piyasakol Sakolsat-ayadorn, Science Minister Pichet Durongkaveroj, and Pollution Control Department chief Wijarn Simachaya, who represented the Natural Resource and Environment Minister.
Atchaka said the assessment on renewing the metallurgy licence would be finalised prior to the deadline on May 13, when the mine’s licence expires, but for now the minister was not able to say if the licence would be renewed or not.
“We have received various data from every side, some of which is in total conflict with the other. In order to address this problem, we invited the Science and Technology Ministry’s National Institute of Metrology to standardise and evaluate credibility of the data, so we can make a decision based on accurate and unbiased information,” she explained.
The minister said there was a lot of information that both supporters and opponents of the mine dispute. For instance, tests on blood samples from people around the mine have been conducted several times but the results were concluded and analysed in different ways.
Further, information from both supporters and opponents to the mining operation would be used for consideration of whether the mine’s licence should be extended as well.
“The department will judge every aspect concerning the well-being of the people, environmental safety, the economic worthiness and social impacts to nearby communities,” Atchaka confirmed.
Akara’s head of corporate affairs Cherdsak Utha-aroon said the company had complied with every regulation and submitted all required documents to the department.
“The decision to renew the licence is up to the authorities now, but if the extension of our licence is denied, we would have to close down our mine and thousands of workers would lose their jobs,” Cherdsak said.
He explained that the metallurgy licence is the certification for gold extraction plants at the mine that it has to renew every five years. So if the company fails to renew its licence, the mine would have to shut down because it is against the law to operate the mine without that licence.
“We have strict environment protection protocol and the mine has lived with nearby communities in harmony for 15 years, so we are sure that the mine is not contaminating the environment and causing sickness to the people, as the opposition claims,” he said.
However, Arom Khamjing, head of the Civil Society to Reform Resources and Gold group, alleged that 70 people living near the gold mine in three provinces have died since May last year and many were sick.
Arom said the official team spent only a short period of time inspecting the mine, so they could not see the full truth. Workers were supporters of the mine, so their voices were not genuine, because they may lose their jobs, if they protest against the mine.
Atchaka said that even time for the inspection was short but they had received comprehensive information about the health problems of people around the mine, cyanide and heavy metal contamination in the environment and other essential details.
“I insist that the government is protecting the people’s interest, not the company or myself. We will bring information from today’s inspection to make a just consideration and we also will try our best to tackle the health problems of the people around the gold mine, whether the company gets its licence renewed or not,” she said.
