Photo by: Bloomberg
JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – African Barrick Gold (ABG) has completed the final step in lifting the environmental protection order (EPO) that has been in force at its North Mara operation since 2009, as it was awarded a formal discharge permit from the Lake Victoria Water Board.
The approval of the discharge permit followed the completion of an extensive joint water sampling programme, the rehabilitation of affected areas, a community awareness programme and the commissioning of a water treatment plant at North Mara.
The removal of the EPO now allowed Tanzania’s largest gold miner to discharge treated water from the mine’s water treatment plant.
"We are delighted to have completed the lifting of the EPO at North Mara. This is the culmination of significant investment at the mine and recognises our ability to discharge clean and safe water, which will benefit both the mine and the communities living around it,” said CEO Brad Gordon.
The company added that, with respect to the recovery of value-added tax (VAT) receivables to which the company was entitled, and following the $7.9-million in VAT refunds received in October, it had subsequently received a further $5.2-million in refunds in November.
In addition to this, ABG had received the first disbursement of $2-million from the escrow facility in relation to VAT on imports for July 2013 and was working to ensure further monthly disbursements in future.