Some AGL officials and participants at the forum inspecting some of the reclaimed concessions
ABOSSO GOLD Fields Limited (AGL) Damang Mine, in the Western Region is to spend an amount of US$19.77 million to reclaim 1,472 hectares of its mining concessions.
The company has therefore posted a security bond of US$19.8 million comprising US$7.6 million cash and US$12.2 million bank guarantee with First National Bank for the exercise.
This means that, in the unlikely event that the mine fails to rehabilitate the disturbed lands, the state can fall on the US$19.8m bond to carry out the rehabilitation of the exercise.
The 1,472 hectares of the used land represents 18 per cent of the company’s concession of 8,111 hectares.
Out of the disturbed area, 506 hectares representing 34 per cent has so far been reclaimed even though mining is still ongoing.
Acting General Manager of AGL, Charles Kofi Nti, who revealed this, explained that the Damang Mine’s rehabilitation activities cover the tailing storage facilities, waste rock dumps and all other disturbed areas.
He explained that the company’s policy on reclamation is to rehabilitate disturbed areas while mining operations are ongoing and not to wait until the end of mine life.
He was speaking at the 2022 Open House Forum on Rehabilitation Planning for Mine Closure.
The forum was attended by representatives from the company’s catchment communities including Damang and Huni Valley. Also present were officials from Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Mineral Commission.
They were briefed on the status of the rehabilitation demonstrational projects with particular emphasis on the rehabilitation of the recently decommissioned tailings storage facility.
They later went on a field trip to tailing dams and rehabilitated sites where rubber, coconut, cashew, cabbage and oil palm have been cultivated.
He noted that as the first mining company to sign the Reclamation Security Agreement (RSA) with the government and post a reclamation bond in November 2000, AGL strives to show commitment to concurrent reclamation.
He explained that RSA is to ensure that the company reclaims all disturbed areas at the end of the mine life.
“We are committed to transforming the economic fortunes of our host communities through the development of agriculture and other socio-economic activities” he said.
FROM Emmanuel Opoku, Damang