Newmont Ghana expresses regret about spillage

Kenyasi, (B/A), Oct. 20, GNA - The Management of the Ahafo Project of Newmont Ghana Gold Limited (NGGL) has expressed regret about the recent unplanned release of active processing solution including sodium cyanide at the Company's plant site at Kenyasi in the Asutifi District of the Brong-Ahafo Region.

Mr Dan Michaelsen, General Manager, Environment and Social Responsibility, who conducted newsmen around the spillage area on Friday, said even though the spillage killed some fishes in areas where it drained to, no person was at risk because the amount of cyanide was extremely low. "Fishes died because they, unlike humans, are directly exposed to cyanide dissolved in water. The cyanide solution contacts the fish gills and stops its respiration system so it will suffocate," Mr Michaelsen stated. He said the Mining Company had provided fresh water tanks to communities near the stream where the dead fishes were found in order not to put any resident's life in danger.

He explained that as soon as the spillage was detected, Newmont personnel stopped it from the source and blocked its escape from the plant site.

"The personnel then treated the dilute cyanide solution with sodium hypochlorite to neutralize water on the ground and traced the path of the flow," Mr Michaelsen explained.

He said another important fact was that the small stream into which the processed water flowed ended up in Newmont's Environmental Control Dam, adding; "on the perimeter of our mining area we have constructed four large earth dams to allow suspended sediments to settle." He said safety measures have been put up in the area in the event of any other form of contamination.

Mr Michaelsen told residents around the stream and the Company's mine take area that it had put in place steps to avoid future recurrence. Mr Johan Van Huyssteen, Process Manager, took newsmen through the process plant activities at the mining site and the Ahafo Environmental and social response programme.