Acacia Mining fined over alleged environmental breach in Tanzania
Acacia Mining (LON:ACA), the Tanzanian gold producer dealing with an ongoing dispute with the country’s administration, received a fresh blow on Thursday from the country’s government, which fined the miner 300 million Tanzanian shillings (about $129,144) over allegations of breaching environmental rules by its North Mara operation.
The company noted it has not yet received any supporting reports, findings or testing data in relation to alleged discharges of a hazardous substance at the mine site, adding that it is currently assessing the technical basis of such claims.
Tanzania's No.1 gold producer also said the alleged environmental violations could relate to a long-standing seepage at the base of the tailings storage facility at North Mara, an issue apparently "well-known" by both the National Environment Management Council (NEMC) and the Tanzanian government.
"This seepage remains managed by pumps which return the water to the tailings storage facility and it is, therefore, contained on the mine site, does not flow into the surrounding environment or present a risk of contamination to any public water source," the company said in a media statement.
Acacia did acknowledge local media reports pointing at the Tanzanian government ordering a new tailings storage facility at North Mara, but said it was only a verbal directive.
The gold producer added that, before the order, it had already detected the need for additional tailings management and storage capacity to meet North Mara’s life of mine plans. However, it believes a new facility would be more economic than expanding the current infrastructure.
The news come only two days after the government appointed a new mining minister, Dotto Biteko, the third person to take on the role since President John Magufuli was elected in 2015.
Acacia, majority owned by Barrick Gold (TSX:ABX)(NYSE:GOLD), has been waiting for the Canadian gold giant to negotiate a settlement with Magufuli, after he forced it to stop exports of concentrate in early 2017.
That year, the country’s government banned exports of unprocessed metal and slapped the miner with a $190 billion tax bill— equal to almost two centuries worth of revenue.
In October, Acacia was hit with fresh charges of money laundering and corruption and some of its employees were detained.
source: MINING.COM
Top News
Six last month
MinRes halts Bald Hill mine amid lithium price rout
Iran Alloy Steel Company intends to purchase 150 tons of Low-Carbon Ferro Manganese through public tender
Gold price faces worst week since 2021 as Fed signals no rate-cut rush
Iran Alloy Steel Company intends to purchase 12 tons of ferrotungsten through public tender
Swapping aluminum for copper will maintain China’s resources, group says
Gold loses some luster after Trump’s decisive win
Hedge funds slash bullish wagers on gold over Trump election win
Iron ore price flirts with key $100/t level on firm demand, China stimulus hopes
Families gather at South African mine shaft where hundreds are feared stuck underground
BHP to spend up to $14 billion on Chilean copper expansion
Chile’s rare salt flat fish faces threat from lithium mining project
British Columbia creates new mining ministry to tackle critical minerals amid doubts over capacity
China’s germanium, gallium ban could cost the US $3.4 billion
South Africa police standoff with illegal gold miners escalates
Iran Alloy Steel Company intends to purchase 150 tons of Low-Carbon Ferro Manganese through public tender
Iran Alloy Steel Company intends to purchase 12 tons of ferrotungsten through public tender
Iron ore price flirts with key $100/t level on firm demand, China stimulus hopes
Newmont sells Ontario gold mine to Orla for $850 million
BHP warns Australian mining not ready for low-cost competitors
Iran Alloy Steel Company intends to purchase 12 tons of ferrotungsten through public tender
Iran Alloy Steel Company intends to purchase 150 tons of Low-Carbon Ferro Manganese through public tender
Chile’s rare salt flat fish faces threat from lithium mining project
British Columbia creates new mining ministry to tackle critical minerals amid doubts over capacity
Newmont sells Ontario gold mine to Orla for $850 million
BHP warns Australian mining not ready for low-cost competitors
Resolute Mining says it will pay Mali $160 million in tax dispute
Trump chooses oil fracking boss as energy secretary
Gold loses some luster after Trump’s decisive win
