Tailings Storage Facility project organises public hearing

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Wednesday organised public hearing on the Goldfields Ghana Limited proposed Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) 5 project at Abekoase in the Prestea/Huni Valley District.

The new TSF 5 project is expected to provide an additional 46.8 million tons of storage for over an approximate 11 years.

The project would also ensure the operational continuation of the mine as its TSF 1 and TSF 3 are expected to be closed in 2017.

Speaking at the hearing which was attended by the chiefs, elders and people of Abekoase, Samahu and Tebe, the Head of Mining Department at EPA, Mr Michael Ali Sandow, said the objective of the public hearing was to provide a forum for Gold Fields-Tarkwa to inform the community of the outcome of the Environmental Assessment on the TSF 5 project.

He said EPA would also have the opportunity to verify the accuracy of the TSF 5 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) findings in relation to the actual situation on the ground.

Mr Sandow said the purpose of the programme was to promote effective public participation in the decision making process and ensure confidence in the Ghana EIA process as well as support for the TSF 5 project.

Mr Benedict Addo, Sustainable Development Manager of Gold Fields, said Abekoase is about two kilometres away from the project and would not be affected more so "there are enough vegetation buffer and energy dissipating structures to safeguard downstream communities such as Abekoase, Samahu, Tebe and Huniso".

He said the mine managed the existing TSFs 1, 2 and 3 effectively and it has comprehensive emergency preparedness and response programme in place for any unexpected event that is likely to occur on the new project.

Mr Addo said the project would also create jobs for the local communities because the management of the mine have decided to engage some local expertise during construction phase of the project.

He said "the Pepe stream which runs through the proposed foot print of the TSF from the Eastern to the Western embankment need to be diverted around the facility".

The chief of Abekoase Nana Morleba called on all the key stakeholders of the mine to consider the issues raised by his people before the project begins.