Colombian authorities file claim against AngloGold Ashanti’s subsidiary

Antioquia’s Autonomous Regional Corporation Corantioquia filed an administrative claim that allows it to lay charges against Minera de Cobre Quebradona, a subsidiary of AngloGold Ashanti (JSE:ANG) (ASX:AGG) (NYSE:AU), in Colombia’s northwestern Antioquia department.

Local media outlet Caracol Radio was made aware of the case and reports that the document states that, back in 2011, the miner broke certain regulations when it installed its Mining Exploration Platform No. 10 just 15 metres away from the La Fea creek in the municipality of Jericó.

The administrative claim gives Quebradona 10 business days to present its arguments in writing and provide or request proofs of the irregular activities in the protected area.

The document mentions a series of technical reports prepared by Corantioquia that show that the construction of the platform circumvented the law. The reports are expected to be used as a basis to issue a sanction.

The claim, however, does not mention any kind of pollution caused by drilling around the creek.

MINING.com contacted Minera de Cobre Quebradona but no one could be immediately reached for comment.

This is not the first complaint against the company’s activities in the area. Earlier this year, the mayor of Jericó ordered a suspension of a soil study being advanced by Quebradona based on a 2018 ban on mining activities. Later on, a citizen denounced that Quebradona was causing damage in two ravines where it has a license to divert some waterflow. Corantioquia, however, lifted the stoppage and resolved the environmental complaints.

The subsidiary of AngloGold Ashanti has invested $65 million in advancing the Quebradona project, which is estimated to host some 5 million tonnes of copper reserves, as well as smaller quantities of gold, silver and molybdenum.