Abosso Gold Fields Limited (AGL) Damang Mine is to spend about US$19.7million to reclaim 1,472 hectares of disturbed lands on the mine in the Prestea-Huni Valley Municipality of the Western Region.
This represent 18 percent of 8,111 hectares of its concession at the Damang Mine. Presently, 506 hectares -representing 34 percent of the disturbed lands – have been reclaimed although mining is still in operation.
In contentment of this, AGL has posted a security bond of US$19.8million, comprising US$7.6million cash and US$12.2million bank guarantee with First National Bank.
This means that in the unlikely event that the mine fails to rehabilitate the disturbed lands, the state can fall on the US$19.8 million bond to carry out the rehabilitation of the land.
Open House Forum
At the 2022 Open House Forum on rehabilitation planning for mine closure, there were participants from Damang, Huni Valley, Abosso, Bompieso, Kyekyewere, Amoanda, Koduakrom, Subri, as well as officials from Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Mineral Commission who went on a field trip to tailing dams and rehabilitated sites where rubber, coconut, cashew, cabbage and oil palm have been cultivated.
Acting General Manager of Damang Mine, Charles Kofi Nti, explained that the Damang Mine’s rehabilitation activities cover the tailing storage facilities, waste rock dumps and all other disturbed areas.
According to him, the mine continues to set aside US$200,000 monthly to improve the cash component of the bond to reduce the bank guarantee every year.
“Our company’s policy on reclamation is concurrent rehabilitation; that is, we rehabilitate our disturbed areas alongside ongoing mining operations, and do not to wait until mining activities cease completely,” he explained.
He said the company remains cognisant of the life-of-mine plan and per the Reclamation Security Agreement (RSA) and the socio-economic activities, the land can be put to use presently and after mining.
“The RSA is to ensure the mine reclaims all disturbed areas at the end of the mine life and that adequate funds are readily available at closure for reclamation,” he added.
He said that AGL continues to update the reclamation bond posted with government through EPA.
“We are committed to transforming the economic fortunes of our host communities through the development of agriculture and other socio-economic activities,” he said.
He also stated that the mine closure planning processes involve extensive stakeholder consultations. The plans guaranteed a solid foundation for the global Environmental Social Governance (ESG) agenda while returning strong economic value and sustainable livelihood to the local communities.
“We are happy to update you and all the stakeholders present on the status of the rehabilitation demonstrational projects with particular emphasis on the rehabilitation of the recently decommissioned tailings storage facility and the rubber estate plantation on our mine,” he said.
Mr. Nti said the mine hopes to expand and develop new areas for the rubber plantation within the disturbed areas.
“I am very confident of the prospects and positive impacts of these activities in our local communities,” he said.
