Illegal quarry operation uncovered as licence expired in 2022

A quarry company identified as TT Quarry has been found to be operating without a valid mining licence after officials discovered that its mineral rights expired in 2022.

The development follows an inspection on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at the company's quarry site, where authorities said operations had continued despite the absence of the required permits.

Officials who visited the site said preliminary checks revealed that the company began operations in 2018 but failed to renew its licence after it expired in 2022.

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"We checked our system and realised that their licence expired in 2022. As we speak, this is an illegal operation because every mining operation is supposed to have the requisite licences and permits," an official told journalists during the inspection.

The inspection team observed active quarrying at the site, with heavy equipment and vehicles in operation as workers continued extracting stones.

However, the officials said they were unable to meet the owner of the quarry, adding that the workers present at the site could not produce documents to prove the company's legal status or ownership.

"We didn't meet the owner, but we met some workers here. From what they are saying, they have not even produced the documents for us to ascertain the owners of this place. They claim it belongs to a foreigner, but we will go back to our office and verify that through our records," the official stated.

According to the official, there is no record indicating that the company applied to renew its licence after it expired.

"Normally, operators are expected to apply for renewal after the expiry of their licence. From where we stand, we have not seen any such application. Therefore, as we speak, this operation is illegal," the official explained.

The official also stressed that the company would be required to regularise its operations before any consideration could be given to renewing its licence.

"They must come to us and apply for renewal. Otherwise, this place ceases to exist in their name. If they apply, we will assess their obligations, including annual mineral rights payments, ground rent, royalties, and whether they have complied with our waybill system," the official said.

The official added that any application submitted by the company would be assessed on its own merits before a decision is taken.

"We will consider the application on a case-by-case basis and determine whether they qualify for a renewal," the official noted, reiterating that mining companies must comply with all regulatory requirements before undertaking operations in the country.

ANAS/MA

Their license expired in 2022. Yet operations continued. Watch more scenes from the TT Quarry site in Ningo-Prampram after the Minerals Commission discovered the company's operating license had expired in 2022, but quarry activities were still ongoing during today's inspection… pic.twitter.com/GzFLzkSUXc

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