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ECONOMY
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MINING CONFLICT
Dismissed report Petaquilla Gold
The Canadian mining company says it has fulfilled almost 100% with the requirements of the Government.
Yesterday, officials of the Ministry of Trade and Industry would have been met to discuss whether to cancel the concession to Petaquilla Gold.
Luis Bellini July 23, 2015 - 00: 05h
Topics: Petaquilla Mine Pollution Petaquilla Gold Mining
Gold mining in Molejón is stopped since the end of 2013 for lack of funds. Gold mining in Molejón is stopped since the end of 2013 for lack of funds.
Gold mining in Molejón is stopped since the end of 2013 for lack of funds. PRESS / Ricardo Iturriaga
The Ministry of Environment did not accept the report presented last July 15 by Petaquilla Gold, which indicated the adjustments mining began in the Molejón mine in the district of Donoso, Colon, to comply with certain requirements Government to cease operations in December 2013 because of financial problems.
Yamil Sanchez, National Director of Environmental Quality Protection of the Environment Ministry said Jorge Obon, a spokesman for the company, who presented the document, does not qualify as legal representative of Petaquilla Gold.
The mining ministry requested a permit to do maintenance work on the south dike structures, cleaning of oil and water evacuation tubs.
"In fact, we received note signed by Mr. Obón on behalf of Petaquilla Gold. But it is important to clarify that Mr. Obon is not the legal representative of the company, but Richard Fifer or the board's designee, and the designation to him has not been officially notified us, "said Sanchez.
The ministry, formerly the National Environmental Authority (ANAM), had already sanctioned by the mining environmental irregularities and now "initiated a punitive administrative process where the application of fines for violations of the environmental impact is analyzed, which includes activities maintenance ".
One of the points that most worries the authorities is that with the cessation of activities in the Molejón have been problems with the tailings basins.
* The Ministry of Trade and Industry (Mici) reportedly met yesterday afternoon to decide whether to remove or not the Petaquilla concession.
The Ministry of Environment had reported that preparing a proposal for submission to Cabinet and get funds to pump the accumulated water in tubs by the rains, strengthening embankments, cleaning of soils with hydrocarbons and maintain certain spaces in the area which it was abandoned.
Mirei Endara, head of the organization, had anticipated that this work would seek a $ 2.5 million, but to restore the natural environment in the mine and completely clean the area an estimated $ 30 million required.
Some organizations expressed their opposition to the state that is spent on recovering the ecological damage caused by Petaquilla.
Moreover, according to the articles of incorporation of Petaquilla contained in the Public Registry, the secretary of the board has the power to run these processes, in the absence of the president.
"There is a power that we have been notarized by Mici (Commerce and Industry), where the board of the company gives me power precisely for these things we are doing. That power to append to the report presented (July 17) "Obon said.
Since December 2013 gold is not mined in the Molejón by the lack of resources of the company to purchase new equipment and to comply with the payment of wages to workers.
Last January, the Mici granted within 180 days for the mining subsidiary of the Canadian company Petaquilla Minerals, solve their environmental and financial problems. Otherwise the process would begin to take his concession, granted in 1997 and protected by Law 9 of that year.
This period culminated last Monday. Yesterday, Mici authorities reportedly met to discuss the situation and decide whether to maintain or remove the concession to Petaquilla Minerals, whose 20 years would be completed in 2017.
According Obon, from mid-April has foreign mining investors who are willing to overcome all the financial problems of the company. The cessation of operations at Molejón has affected 604 employees who are owed 8 million.
