GCIL ALREADY LICENSED TO DEWATER DAM
The tailings dam at the Gold Ridge mine. Photo credit: Pacific Scoop.
Permanent Secretary of the Environment Ministry, Dr. Melchior Mataki says his ministry has already issued a license to the Gold Ridge Mining Company to start to dewater the Goldridge tailings dam.
He says the license has been issued several weeks ago.
“The Gold Ridge Community Investment Limited company has already received its dewatering license several weeks ago and the Government has also assisted the company in raising awareness with the downstream communities and I think there is a general consensus to allow dewatering to take place, but it will take place with treatment. In other words, not untreated water will be released, but treated water will be released.”
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Gold Ridge Mining, Mr. Walton Naezon confirms receiving the license.
Mr. Naezon explains, the dewatering program will commence as soon as a few technical issues are cleared.
“The dewatering program is in progress, only a few technical issues will have to be satisfied regarding the pumpage, one; we had made the appoint for an independent environmental audit, which is a condition of a subsidiary agreement signed by the company with the people living downstream.”