Gold Fields to join government fight ‘galamsey’
The Executive Vice- President and Head of West Africa for Gold Fields Limited (GFL), Mr Alfred Baku, has declared the willingness of the company to partner the government to deal with the trending illegal mining issue in the country.
Advertisement
In an interview with the media after the presentation of GH¢5.8 million in dividend to the government, he said, “We have realised that this problem has become a very important issue of national interest and we would help to successfully stop the illegal miners from messing the environment.”
He said for instance, that between15 to 20 per cent of the company’s reserve has been depleted through the activities of the illegal miners.
Mr Baku suggested that the small-scale miners should acquire a permit from the government to enable them to also operate legally and stop encroaching on the concessions of others.
He said the company was faced with challenges relating to profitability because of the high cost of operations and the fall in gold prices, hence the near shutdown of the Damang Mine.
On power production, Mr Baku stated that the company teamed up with an independent power producer (IPP), Genser Energy Ghana Limited, to supply the company with power.
He added that the power supply was through gas which would cause Goldfields to come off the national grid in no time.
He explained that the company’s two operations, Tarkwa and Damang Mines that represent the West Africa region had only the Damang Mine off the national grid and preparations were halfway through to soon take the Tarkwa Mine off completely. — GB
