FLASHBACK: Aftermath of the explosion
THE MINISTRY of Lands and Natural Resources has recommended to Maxam Ghana Limited to ensure it transports its chemical ammonium nitrate without ANFO, the fuel it mixes with it to get an explosion.
The ministry said the end products needed by the mining companies can be mixed at the mining sites rather than carrying them on the road to its premises.
He said Maxam has been asked to ensure there is always an escort in front of the truck carrying the ammonium nitrate and that the escort must have a siren or an electronic hooter that will signal that there is danger ahead.
“The escort vehicle must also have a flag hoisted on it while on the road and there must be a megaphone to inform the people to move away whenever the driver encounters any problem in the course of transporting the ammonium nitrate,” he noted.
He explained that the $6 million fine imposed on Maxam was not meant for the reconstruction of Apiate but to support the activities of the Minerals Commission, adding, “If the need be to support the people, we will do because the money is generally for Ghanaians.”
It explained that the sanctions and fine imposed on Maxam Ghana Limited over the explosion at Apiate is not meant to cripple or intimidate firms in the extractive industry.
Maxam Company Limited is the mining services company whose vehicle was carrying chemicals that exploded at Apiate near Bogoso in the Prestea Huni Valley Municipality, causing deaths and massive damage in the farming community.
According to the ministry, the sanctions imposed on the explosive manufacturing company was rather to ensure that all the relevant laws and regulations governing the sector were adhered to in order to prevent what happened at Apiate from occurring again.
A Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, George Mireku Duker, disclosed this Wednesday in an interview with journalists at Tarkwa.
Mr. Duker led a delegation from the Ministry and the Minerals Commission, including the Inspector of Mines, on a day’s working visit to the operation site of Maxam Ghana Company Limited in Tarkwa in the Western Region.
The Deputy Minister and his entourage were taken through a presentation of the company’s operations, safety protocols and contribution to the community by the Plant Manager.
It would be recalled that the Minerals Commission had earlier issued a prohibition notice on Maxam Ghana Company Limited for it to halt operations at its production site in Tarkwa after the unfortunate incident at Apiate.
Subsequently, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources fined Maxam Company Limited a sum of $6 million.
This followed the submission of a report by a three-member committee on Tuesday, February 1, 2022, empanelled to independently carry out “investigations to corroborate or otherwise, the findings of the Minerals Commission.”
The Deputy Minister’s visit was among other things to ascertain if the new measures instituted by the company met the regulatory standards precedent for their resumption.
After a comprehensive tour of the production site of Maxam, Mireku Duker expressed satisfaction with progress made by the company.
He stressed that government was mindful of the implications of such sanctions on mining companies but assured that “all actions are intended for the good of the industry and for them to operate safely.”
He, however, noticed some challenges which he promised to bring to the attention of the sector minister accordingly.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Tarkwa