Gold mining cancelled after protests in Sudan

Mining company planned a factory in Sebu, using cyanide and mercury

Gold mining permit withdrawn after four day protests

Phila Mzamo

http://www.miningne.ws/2017/01/18/gold-mining-permit-withdrawn-after-4-day-protests/#

January 18, 2017

The Popular Committee for Environmental Protection has welcomed Sudan’s Northern state Governor Awad Ali’s decision to withdraw a permit in South Kordofan’s mining area, to establish a factory that would extract gold with toxic chemicals.

The Northern state government withdrew the permit of the unnamed company, following popular protests by discontent residents.

The mining company had plans for a factory in Sebu in Dalgo locality in northern Sudan, using mercury and cyanide to separate gold and silver particles from ore.

A series of protests against the permit lasted four days before the governor decided to categorically withdraw all the company’s machinery from the site on 17 January.

Governor Ali proposed holding an investigation into the health and environmental effects of the chemicals when members of the committee toured the area on 13 January. The toxins could cause various health problems, which could be fatal.

Ahmed Mukhtar, secretary-general, Popular Committee for Environmental Protection, noted that more than 30 companies now exist in South Kordofan. “These companies have established factories in the populated areas amid the absence of any engineering considerations.”

“These toxic substances exist for long periods in the soil, water and trees, which constitutes damage to the forest and animal wealth in the state, in the long term.”

Mukhtar said he anticipates an environmental disaster in the state because of leaking toxic substances across the water and valleys during the coming rainy season. He added that the committees cooperate with all competent authorities in order to reach solutions to this problem.

Sudan: Gold Mining Permit Withdrawn After Protests

http://allafrica.com/stories/201701170689.html

17 January 2017

Dalgo / Kadugli — The Northern state government withdrew the permit of a mining company, for establishing a factory that would extract gold with toxic chemicals, following popular protests. In South Kordofan's mining area, more mining companies emerge, to the discontent of residents.

The mining company had plans for a factory in Sebu in Dalgo locality in northern Sudan, using mercury and cyanide to separate gold and silver particles from ore. The toxins can cause various serious and possibly fatal health problems.

A series of protests against the permit lasted four days before the Governor of Northern state, Awad Ali, decided to categorically withdraw all the company's machineries from the site yesterday. The Popular Committee for Environmental Protection has welcomed the Governor's decision.

Ali had proposed holding an investigation into the health and environmental effects of the chemicals' use on Friday, when members of the Committee toured the area with loudspeakers.

Elsewhere in Sudan more mining activities have popped up despite rejections by local committees and activists. Companies which allegedly also use cyanide in the gold extraction process have increased their activities in several parts of South Kordofan, according to the committee for environmental advocacy.

Ahmed Mukhtar, the committee's secretary-general, told Radio Dabanga that more than 30 companies now exist in South Kordofan. "These companies have established factories in the populated areas amid the absence of any engineering considerations."

"These toxic substances exist for long periods in the soil, water and trees, which constitutes damage to the forest and animal wealth in the state in the long term."

Mukhtar said he anticipates an environmental disaster in the state because of leaking toxic substances across the water and valleys during the coming rainy season. He added that the committees cooperate with all competent authorities in order to reach solutions to this problem.

Activists and the residents in South Kordofan actively reject the activities of the companies, he said. Protests were carried out in a number of villages against the installation of a new gold extraction factory in Bajoun locality on Sunday.

"There have been detentions of activists in a number of the localities, as well as harassment of the graduates' committee in El Tadamon," Mukhtar claimed. A lawyer working on a trial against a planned gold factory in Kadugli, South Kordofan was arrested by the security service mid-December.