Newmont Employs Strict Safety Measures

… As EPA Probes Spillage At Ahafo

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has commended Newmont Gold Ghana Ltd for its cooperation in investigating circumstances surrounding the overflow of chemical solution containing traces of cyanide at the Ahafo mine. The incident which happened on Saturday 10th October, 2009 made Newmont open its facilities to officials of the EPA to take samples of water and dead fishes for forensic laboratory analysis.

Company officials say, last week’s incident was not deliberate, downplaying earlier news reports that the spillage was that of raw cyanide. “It was the overflow of neutralizing agent bleach. That was quickly detected after our indicator failed on the amount of processing solution to be pumped,” Newmont Ahafo’s Process Manager, John van Heuysten said last week. He stressed that the Ahafo mine currently has four environmental control dams to capture water from treatment plants, adding that those dams were properly monitored on a daily basis.

At no time was there a risk to human health or aquatic life, Newmont’s preliminary checks have claimed.

The incident last week led to the identification of some dead fishes by community folks in a tributary of River Subri in the Asutifi district of the Brong Ahafo region.

It was speculated that the spillage was that of raw cyanide.

Mr Dan Michaelson, General Manager of Environment and Social Responsibility at the Ahafo mine explained that the chemical overflow contained only 0.0005 per cent of cyanide, a measurement, experts say, can never be harmful to human life. According to experts, a child in New Zealand was reported of consuming 0.33 per cent of cyanide solution but survived.

Food items such as cassava, beans and maize have been tested to contain some traces of cyanide.

Mr Dan Michaelson said the company regretted dearly the incident, saying Newmont would learn from it and accordingly review its operations.

Meanwhile, Newmont has supplied potable water to inhabitants at Kantinka, Afua Serwakrom, Norbertkrom, Kyeikrom, Bronikrom, Lawyerkrom, Kwamebourkrom and others surrounding areas until the EPA finishes its laboratory tests.

EPA sources tell this paper the issue will be thoroughly investigated, bearing in mind the ultimate interest of inhabitants and the operations of Newmont. Newmont is a signatory to the International Cynanide Management Code and will strictly adhere to professional standards, company officials have maintained.