- Newmont strives to engage and consult with communities with respect and transparency.
- The Ahafo Linkages Program supports the development of local businesses in communities.
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Government satisfied with Newmont's effort after cyanide spillage
Published in www.ghanaweb.com, General News - 22 July, 2010
Accra, July
22, GNA - Ms Sherry Ayittey, Minister for Environment Science and Technology,
has said Newmont Ghana Gold Limited had adhered to all the curative orders
given after the cyanide spillage in 2009 in Brong Ahafo Region.
"I am satisfied with all that Newmont has done to the affected hamlets
since the accidental spill that occurred Tuesday October 2009 at the processing
plant of the mine," she said when she answered questions in parliament on
Wednesday.
She said the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) upon report of the cyanide
spillage set a panel to investigate the matter and found Newmont culpable of
negligent in its operation causing the spillage.
Ms Ayittey noted that the panel on the basis of its investigation demanded some
measures among which were map out high risk operational areas and heighten
surveillance, review incident classification criteria and prompt reporting
procedure.
The panel according to her also directed that Newmont should educate staff of
environmental response procedures and carry out regular drills and payment of
seven million Ghana
cedis towards mitigation and ecological enhancement.
She stated that the directive also called on Newmont to submit to EPA its
emergency response procedures and incident classification criteria for review
and to undertake comprehensive studies on the soils and or sediments within the
operational area in order to trace the high sources of metal concentration.
She noted that a team of technical officials led by the Deputy Minister for the
Ministry, Mr Omane Boamah visited and inspected the implementation of the
directives and could confirm that much had been done.
"With the exception of the soil analysis, which should be done by the end
of July 2010, all the other recommendations have been implemented by Newmont
Ghana Gold Limited," she stressed.
A consultant, she explained, was working on the affected communities to carry
out Community Need Assessment to enable the necessary action to be taken by the
Ministry.
The Minister stated that all areas had been zoned according to risk and plans
for risk management developed and high risk areas mapped out and additional
patrols implemented round the clock surveillance during shutdowns to improve
surveillance.
She said spill handling procedures such as surveillance and equipment handling
had been revised and communicated to all relevant staff trained on the new
procedures.
Ms Ayittey noted that surveillance updated and inspection of frequency
increased adding that cameras have been installed at the emergency containment
pond with monitors in the control room to check levels in addition to extra
level monitoring equipment.
She stated that emergency spill kits were placed in key areas while a
comprehensive study on the soils and sediments within the operational area was
underway to trace the high source of metal concentrations.
She said the project scope had been agreed upon with its detailed work plan and
contractual agreement formalized. The sampling analysis she added was to
commence July this month.
She explained that to provide permanent portable water to the affected
communities, a poly tank was provided to communities immediately following the
event to ensure constant water supply to the affected hamlets.
According to the Minister the tank was regularly filled from a potable water
source adding that a borehole was scheduled to be fully completed in August
2010 for the communities.
Source: GNA
Ahafo Mine Process Solution Overflow January 2010 Update
Newmont Ghana Gold Limited - Ahafo Mine Process Solution Overflow Event - January 2010 Status Update
Newmont Ghana has been providing updates regarding the status of the Ahafo Mine process solution overflow consistent with its commitment to transparency and public disclosure. Newmont reiterates our regret and apology for the overflow and is committed to operating with high standards and accepts responsibility for any failure to meet those standards.
As indicated in our December 2009 update, the company continued to engage with the Ministerial Panel appointed to review the causes of the overflow and its impacts. Since the time of the overflow, water sampling has continued to confirm that there is no threat from cyanide to human health or residual environmental impact. NGGL remains engaged with the local hamlets to ensure their wellbeing and to provide fresh water. In addition, Newmont Ghana implemented a number of corrective measures to ensure an accidental release of this nature does not happen again.
Newmont Ghana rigorously reviewed and modified its control systems and monitoring procedures, with the participation of regulatory agencies. As a result, the company implemented a number of measures to:
- Reduce the risk of overfilling the event pond during mill shutdowns;
- Improve the reliability of the instrumentation and level detection systems;
- Increase the event pond pumping capacity to redirect process solution more quickly during rain events;
- Improve containment within the processing plant site in the event other systems fail during a process water overflow;
- Improve and accelerate communication with stakeholders; and,
- Improve onsite protocols and procedures.
Newmont Ghana recently received a letter from the Minister of Environment, Science & Technology along with a copy of a report from the Ministerial Panel. The company is in the process of reviewing the report and will be engaging with the Minister to discuss the Panel's recommendations.
In recognition of the overflow's impact, the company made initial compensation proposals to the Panel. While the report of the Panel recognized that there was no regulatory framework by which to assess compensation or penalties relating such incidents, it recommended that substantial compensation be paid and Newmont Ghana has stated its intention to meet its compensation obligations, once the process is complete.
The report concludes that there were a number of factors including operational supervision failures, along with numerous systems and mechanical failures, that were the primary causes of the accidental release. Similarly, those failures resulted in regulatory agencies not being immediately notified, which may have inadvertently created an appearance of an alleged "cover-up." Newmont Ghana reaffirms that there was no intention to behave in any manner other than being fully transparent and cooperative with the government and the communities.
Newmont reiterates our apology to the regulatory authorities for the delayed notification about the overflow, and we have acknowledged this was a mistake on our behalf. The failure to communicate immediately was not deliberate. Rather, it was due to the fact that our initial assessments mistakenly determined that the overflow was contained within the process plant area. Nevertheless, we should have notified the regulatory authorities immediately, and we have committed to working with them to improve our reporting protocols and also to review our emergency response mechanisms to ensure improved performance.
The panel's report also provides a number of recommendations which are focused on strengthening risk awareness, incident classification and notification criteria, and enhancing capacity to recognize and respond to emergency situations.
Newmont Ghana apologized for the fish mortality that resulted from the overflow and for any anxiety caused in the local community regarding the safety of their drinking water.
The company is continuing to engage with regulators to review the causes of the overflow, its impacts and will implement any additional recommendations to ensure an accidental release of this nature does not occur again.
Newmont Ghana remains committed to improving its processes and to reassuring local communities of the company's ongoing commitment to their safety, while re-establishing confidence in our environmental controls and reporting mechanisms,
Newmont's first priority remains the safety of our neighbors, employees and the environment.
Media Contact: Adiki O. Ayitevie
Regional Manager, Communications
024 4330870
Ahafo Mine Process Solution Overflow Update December 2009
Newmont Ghana Gold Limited - Ahafo Mine Process Solution Overflow Event - Status Update December 2009
On Thursday, October 8th, an overflow of process solution containing low concentrations of sodium cyanide occurred within the processing plant site at Newmont Ghana’s Ahafo Mine. Newmont Ghana regrets and apologizes for the overflow and is committed to operating with high standards and accepts responsibility for any failure in meeting those standards.
The overflow occurred due to a pond-level instrument malfunction. The control room operator observed that the operations pond was overflowing into the event pond which was filled to capacity for planned maintenance activities. Once the situation was discovered, the source of the process solution overflow was stopped, but not before process solution overflowed from the event pond. The process solution within the plant site area was immediately contained and treated to neutralize the cyanide and laboratory analyses showed that all residual cyanide was destroyed.
On Saturday October 10, it was discovered that some process solution had entered the environment exiting the plant site area via a diversion channel leading to a series of seasonally swampy areas where a localized fish mortality was discovered. Employees, local communities, regulatory agencies and other key stakeholders were notified and updated about the overflow beginning Saturday October 10 when this condition was discovered Water quality samples collected after October 11 indicated residual process solution levels were below laboratory detection limits. Results of Ahafo’s internal testing were also made available to the regulatory agencies during their initial site visit.
Ongoing water quality sampling and analysis conducted by both the government agencies and Newmont Ghana following the incident have indicated no presence of cyanide. Water samples were sent to independent laboratories in Ghana and the United States to verify other tests showing that surface water drainages and groundwater remained safe. Sampling results continue to confirm that there is no threat from cyanide to human health and no residual environmental impact.
We deeply regret this incident and the anxiety it caused the local community. We are working with the regulatory agencies and interested parties to ensure restitution for any impacts. In addition, we continue working closely under the supervision of appropriate government agencies to modify our systems and implement corrective actions to ensure an accidental release of this nature does not happen again.
Newmont is conducting its own evaluation and has put interim measures in place to prevent any further releases. Newmont also has commissioned a third party review by qualified International Cyanide Management Code auditors to assess these measures and provide recommendations for long-term improvements.
Newmont Ghana has committed to publicly announcing our corrective actions for preventing any future releases of this nature. Similarly, the company is engaging with a regulatory panel established and managed by the Government to review causes of the overflow, its impacts and the corrective measures being implemented.
Newmont Ghana remains committed to demonstrating that the safety of our neighbors and employees and protection of the environment is our priority. Superior environmental performance of our operations is extremely important to Newmont Ghana and it will continue to be our focus going forward.
For further information or questions regarding the overflow event, please contact Adiki Ayitevie
EPA: Chemical Overflow at Newmont Did Not Reach Public
Published in www.ghanaweb.com, General News - 13 October, 2009
Accra, Oct. 13, GNA - The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Tuesday confirmed that the minor overflow of processing solution that occurred at Newmont's Ahafo Mines was contained within the mines and did not get into waters consumed by the residents of the area.
Mr Isaac Osei, Brong-Ahafo Regional Manager of the EPA, told the Ghana News Agency that the overflow occurred in the "processing event pond", which is within the process plant area of the mines and far away from the environmental control dams (ECD).
He explained that gold ore was leached in the process plant and residual low grade process solution was stored in the process and event pond, which contained sodium cyanide. The residual water is recovered from the tailing storage facility and recycled to the process plant for re-use. Mr Osei said: "There is a computerised level indicator which signals the staff members what the level of the water in the pond has reached at any point in time - it was at this point that the indicator gave them the wrong signal so they did not realise the overflow in time.
"This is where I thought they were negligent because beside the computers they should have had some staff members to monitor the level of the water in the pond to prevent such occurrences."
Mr. Osei said the chemical that spilled off was not raw cyanide but a processing solution which contained cyanide. He also added that the chemical did not reach the ECD and it did not affect residents in the area in anyway.
The ECD is a dam created by Newmont to control the quantity and quality of run-off from the mine site before it enters waters that the residents of the area consume.
"When the water is trapped in the ECD, measures are then taken to remedy the situation," he said.
Mr. Osei said it was on its way to the ECD that the contaminated water entered into a "small tributary" of the Subri River but did not reach the ECD, "much more reaching the Subri River itself."
He assured the public that as far as that spillage was concerned, there was no cause for alarm, but asked Newmont to man their processing pond properly and also to report such spillages to the EPA in good time. Meanwhile, Newmont has since then provided alternative sources of potable water for the people in the area, while further investigations are ongoing to ensure complete public safety.
Source: GNA
Creating Opportunities For Local Companies: Newmont Takes The Lead
Article published in the Insight - 4 May, 2009 - page 9
Newmont Ghana Gold limited (NGGL) has awarded contracts worth more than $10.5 million dollars to local vendors and suppliers who have remarkable bearing on employment opportunities in the operational area of its Ahafo project.
Mr. Dan Michaelson, General Manager in charge of environment and social responsibility for NGGL said this in a speech read for him at the Ahafo Business Week at Kenyasi on Tuesday.
NGGL, together with the Ahafo Business Association and the International Finance Corporation organized the two- day event which was on the theme “Developing businesses in Ahafo through partnership.”
More than 40 companies are participating in the Programme designed for local entrepreneurs to enhance their understanding of business practices as well as to showcase Ahafo as a place to do business in Ghana.
Mr. Michaelson dismissed the perception that mining communities do not benefit from the presence of mining companies and are underdeveloped.
“Very much aware of this perception, NGGL showed early determination to change the script by developing the capacity of the local economy not only to support the mine but to remain buoyant and diversified even after the life of the mine,” he said.
The General Manager said it was against this background that the company, in collaboration with the International Finance Corporation, established the Ahafo Linkages Programme in 2007 out of which the Ahafo Business Association was born.
Mr. Michaelson explained that the Programme aimed at generating employment and increasing revenue for local medium and small scale enterprises through the provision of business development training, mentoring and diversification.
He said NGGL would continue to support the development of the local economy to significantly improve the lives of the people.
Newmont Ghana To Launch Malarial Control Programme
Article published in the Daily Graphic - 2 May, 2009
Newmont Ghana Gold limited (NGGL), which is operating the Ahafo Mine in the Brong Ahafo Region, is to launch an integrated community malarial control Programme as part of the company’s efforts to eradicate the menace in its host communities.
Under the first phase of the Programme, the Gyedu Health Center Laboratory will be equipped with diagnostic equipment to be manned by trained laboratory technicians.
In addition, the company will distribute free treated nets to households at two of its settlement sites at Ntotroso and Ola senior high school.
The community development superintendent of NGGL, Mr. Joseph Danso, announced this at a durbar to commemorate the district celebration of this year’s World Malaria Day at Ntotroso, which was on the theme , “Counting Malaria Out”. It was jointly organized by the Asutifi district health directorate and NGGL.
To show its commitment, Newmont distributed 500 long-lasting insecticide treated bed nets (INTs) to pregnant women and children under five years and treated old bed nets for the community at the function.
Mr. Danso has also announced plans by the company to organize a malarial quiz competition for selected second –cycle institutions within its operational area , and expressed the hope that the competition would be keener than it was last year, saying “At Newmont, our fight against malaria does not start and end on world malaria day.”
The superintendent observed that malaria had plagued humanity for a long time and it continued to impact about 40 per cent of the world’s population, affecting more than 500 million people per year and killing over one million.
“This is a disease that kills 3,000 children per day” he noted, saying that complications from malaria, including severe anemia account for at least a million more deaths, while malaria takes as much as 40 per cent of public health expenditure in malarial endemic areas, with Ghana being no exception.”
He emphasized that in Ghana, malaria accounted for about 40 percent of all out-patient department (OPD) cases and accounted for about 25 per cent of all under five mortality cases.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Director of health services, Dr. Aaron Offei, disclosed that the current poor personal and environmental sanitation in towns and villages, made it difficult to address diseases of public health importance such as malarial and guinea worm.
He described the disease burden of malaria in the region as enormous, pointing out that in the year 2007, 49 per cent of all patients seen in hospitals and health centers were malarial cases, but said the figure reduced to 44 per cent in 2008.
Dr. Offei noted that it was clear the malaria disease contributed to low productivity and absenteeism in schools in the region and that the regional health directorate had intensified activities to control the disease, including public education and advocacy for improved access to potable water.
The Asutifi District Director of health services, Mr. John Frederick Dadzie, said in 2006, malaria contributed 36 per cent of all cases while in 2007 it was 37 per cent and in 2008, 36.5 per cent.
Mr. Dadzie, however, noted that the ranking of malaria among the top ten causes of mortality was reducing gradually, and disclosed that in 2006, the disease placed third and moved down to forth and fifth positions in 2007 and 2008 respectively.
Newmont Sets Up Gender Mainstreaming Programme
Article published in the Daily Graphic - 20 April, 2009 - page 9
Newmont Ghana Gold Limited (NGGL) operating the Ahafo Mine Site in the Brong Ahafo Region, has established a gender mainstreaming Programme that seeks to encourage women to assume greater responsibility within the mine and amongst the host communities of the company.
Through the Programme, female staff at the mine site have, out of their own initiative, established a revolving fund to support themselves in business.
A minimum of GH¢100 has so far been disbursed to 10 women.
The community development superintendent of Newmont Ahafo Mine, Mr. Joseph Danso disclosed this at a durbar to mark the Tano North District celebration of this year’s International Women’s Day at Yamfo.
"NGGL will through the Programme continue to empower and encourage women in our local communities to be a cardinal part of decision making at all levels so that we can collectively carry out the much needed socio-economic development of our communities", Mr. Danso stated.
He said under the Programme, NGGL had been partnering with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the regional office of the National Commission on Women and Development (NCWD).
A deputy director at the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, Mrs. Juliana Amponsah catalogued a number of legislations that had been promulgated to protect women and children.
Birim North Youth Groups Pledge Support for Newmont Akyem Project
Published in GNA, Regional News, Modern Ghana - 13 February, 2009
Youth groups in the Birim North District have pledged their support for the Newmont Akyem Project as a result of the company's excellent commitment to its social responsibility and appealed to government agencies to support the company.
The group included the Stool Lands Owners Association, Executive Committee of the Umbrella Council of Youth Association in Akyem, Birim North Chapter of the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI), Community Consultative Committee (CCC), chiefs, queens, local opinion leaders and district assembly members.
In a statement issued at new Abirem and signed on behalf of the group by Mr Samuel Arko-Mensah, Vice Chairman of GNCCI, they registered their distaste and disagreement with the Wassa Association of Communities Affected by Mining (WACAM), on its latest stunt to stop the Newmont Akyem Project.
The statement appealed to the government to ignore the agitation of WACAM and its sponsors and rather support the project, especially in the area of energy.
The statement said the group was convinced that the expected positive benefits of the project far outweigh the damage.
"This conviction is based on three things firstly, on what Newmont has already done at Ahafo, secondly on what we have learnt through our engagements with the company and thirdly the expert advice and technical information shared with local people at the three Ghana Environmental Public Assessment (EPA) public hearings".
The statement said at the final EPA public hearing held in July last year at Yayaaso, the people of Akyem expressed their support for the project after engaging the company on both the negative and positive impact of the proposed project.
The statement said it was apparent that the project would assure the rapid development of Akyem in five to seven years after the project had started adding that it envisaged a Municipality encompassing all the nine mine communities.
"Even as we wait for the project to start, specific developments results have been achieved including the formation of a functional Chapter of the Chamber of Commerce, the first in the Eastern Region, an Umbrella Council of Youth Associations, and an Apprenticeship Skills training programme for the youth," it said.
40 Million Euros Granted for Ministry of Lands, Forestry & Mines
Article published in the The Independent - 10 April, 2008 - by Ishmael Barfi & Grace Akrasi Asare
The Minister of Lands, Forestry & Mines, Hon. Esther Obeng Dappah, has stated that, her outfit is distributing an amount of forty (40) million euros grant from the European Union for the Mining Sector Support Programme (MSSP) to undertake various projects to improve the mining sector in the country.
One of the projects, she pointed out, would be an implementation of alternative livelihood projects in mining communities to improve relationship between mining companies and the communities within which they operate.
Hon. Esther Obeng Dappah disclosed this when she took her turn to address the media at the weekly meet-the-press series in Accra.
The rest of the projects to be undertaken are institutional reinforcement and capacity building, development of geological data, including airborne geophysical survey of the entire Voltarian and Keta Basins mineral and other resources and the abatement of mercury pollution resulting from small scale mining.
The Minister admitted that, the mining sector of the Ministry over the years has faced problems limiting mining operations in the country.
She cited over-reliance on few traditional minerals such as gold, diamonds, manganese and bauxite, outmoded legal and fiscal regimes, hostile relationship between mining companies and host communities and environmental degradation (Mercury pollution of water bodies by small scale miners) as some of the problems in the mining sector.
She stated that, the Ministry would develop a new Mining Policy as well as review the legal and fiscal regimes to attract more investment into the mining sector.
The Minister pointed out that, an act, Minerals and Mining Act 2006 (Act 703) has been enacted based on international best practices, which do not only make the sector internationally competitive, but also address the interest of other stakeholders such as relocation, resettlement of mining communities and compensation for use of land.
She stated that, "the strategy to promote value addition to our minerals has also yielded positive results."
Touching on the lands sub-sector, she indicated that, as at the beginning of 2001, the lands sub-sector faced various challenges hindering its progress.
The Minister pointed out that, in order to address the problems facing land administration in the country, her outfit instituted measures to streamline policies and legislative framework as well as establish an efficient and cost effective one-stop-corporate-organization to handle land management in order to reduce time and cost of land registration and titling.
She said the Ministry has achieved some progress with the implementation of these strategies.
To make land transaction easier, she pointed out that, a bill to establish a new Lands Commission with all land agencies under it, is currently before Parliament for consideration, and also disclosed that, negotiations for the construction of a new office building for the new Land Agency have been considered.
Hon. Esther Dappah explained that, in order to reduce insecurity in land tenure and avoid multiple sales of land, 10 customary land secretariats (one in each region) have been established.
Mines Urged to Be Conscious of Environmental Issues
Article published in the Ghanaian Times - 10 April, 2008 - by Ian Motey, Sunyani
The Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, has advised mining firms operating in the region to take issues of the environment seriously.
He said residents of the region, especially those in the Ahafo area, are predominantly farmers, and any activity that poses a threat to their livelihood will not be countenanced.
He urged companies engaged in surface mining to abide by laid down environmental regulations to avoid confrontations with the inhabitatnts.
"We do not want to see a situation where the activities of the company will degrade the environment to the extent of depriving the communities of their means of livelihood and other economic activities and also injure their health," he cautioned.
Mr Baffour-Awuah gave the advice on Tuesday at the inauguration of the Newmont/Community 2008 Crop Rates Review Committee in Sunyani.
The committee is made up of staff of Newmont Ghana Gold Limited, a mining firm, operating in the region and communities within its concessionary area.
The committee's terms of reference include determining the rate to be given as compensation to farmers who may lose their crops as a result of the mining activities of Newmont.
The Regional Minister urged the company to open up to affected farmers in order to clear all doubts in their minds.
He also entreated the negotiating committee to let the current macro-economic trend in the country reflect in their negotiations.
Mr. Baffour-Awuah said the government, being mindful of the benefits of foreign investment, will always credit the enabling environment for the operations of the company.
In his welcome address, Randy Barnes, the External Affairs Manager of Newmont, said the need for access to land for mining continues to remain a major challenge for stakeholders in the extractive industry.
He said that one of such concerns is that of inadequate compensation to farmers.
"It is therfore important for all involved in the review compensation packages to have a common undertaking," he said.
Mr. Barnes pledged Newmont's commitment to maintaining the highest standards in its operation by complying with all regulations and laws governing the mining industry.
He said, Newmont has, since 2004, undertaken three of such review negotiations and has learnt valuable and insightful lessons from them.
A former Inspector General of Police, Ernest Owusu Poku, who chaired the function, lauded Newmont for developing a strategy involving communities in its area of operations.
He called for a frank and open discussion between the company and the communities in order to arrive at mutually accepted terms.
Newmont Ghana began operating in July 2006 with the construction of an open pit mine and associated facilities for gold production at Ahafo.
The company, with about 1,000 employees, is expected to produce around 500,000 ounces of gold in 20 years.