Permit first before operating- EPA to Ibrahim Mahama

Exton Cubic has no permit to mine bauxite at Nyinahini in the Ashanti Region, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has said.

A statement from the EPA on Wednesday, 23 August said: “As a result of the public interest in the matter, the EPA would like to clarify the position of Exton Cubic Group Limited’s environmental permit status under its mining lease (That is a necessary condition for any mining activity).

“The bottom line is that Exton Cubic Group Limited has not obtained the required EPA permit under its mining lease and, therefore, any attempt to enter the area for mining activity is illegal.”

The EPA said on 29 March 2016, Exton Cubic Group Limited applied for three separate environmental permits from the agency to undertake the prospecting of bauxite on its Mpraeso, Kiriyaso and Kyekyewere concessions in the Ashanti Region covering a total of 346.08km square.

The EPA said it granted the environmental permit to Exton Cubic Group Limited on 7th June 2016 but the company among other conditions was to notify the EPA as soon as prospecting activities commenced and also to submit within three months from the date of issuance of the environmental permit, a liability estimate of environmental degradation to enable the posting of the Reclamation Bond in line with regulation 23 of the environmental assessment regulation 1999 (LI1652).

However, Exton Cubic Group Limited “unfortunately reneged on all these conditions. The prospecting permits are, therefore, no longer valid.”

Exton Cubic Group Limited, according to the EPA, subsequently acquired a mining lease on 29 December 2016 from the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.

“This mining lease requires a new EPA permit which has not been granted by the EPA. The EPA’s discussions with the company and its consultants indicated that the following documents are required to support the application for an EPA permit under its mining lease:

1. Submission to EPA of a “no objection” letter from cabinet;

2. Completion and submission of statutory environmental assessment form (EA2); and

3. Notification from the EPA to the company to conduct the environmental impact assessment which would have led to a broader public consultation and “public hearing” within the relevant catchment communities in line with regulation 17 of the environmental assessment regulation 1999 (LI1652).

“Failure of the company to comply with the above stated conditions as at the time of the issuance of this press release has rendered all environmental permits null and void. Again, the EPA wishes to state that any mining activity to be conducted by the Exton Cubic Group Limited within the concession areas of which environmental permit is being sought is not consistent with the environmental assessment procedures of the EPA, LI1652 and is therefore illegal,” the statement signed by the Executive Director said.

Meanwhile, the Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei-Mensah, has said his decision not to allow Exton Cubic Group Limited to continue mining bauxite at the Tano-Offin Forest Reserve in the Atwima Mponua District, is not political but in the interest of the country.

Mr Osei-Mensah has seized equipment and logistics hired by the company for its operations, and has vowed not to release the equipment until the company produces documents to show they have been licensed to mine in the region. The equipment belong to Engineers and Planners Co. Ltd, a company owned by Ibrahim Mahama, brother of former President John Dramani Mahama.

Some critics have argued Mr Osei-Mensah has taken an entrenched position to witch-hunt the brother of the former president, but the Minister insists his stance is not political.

Speaking to Moro Awudu, Class 91.3FM’s host of the Executive Breakfast Show (EBS) on Wednesday, 23 2017, Mr Osei-Mensah said: “Why are people talking about the company involved. I’m asking simple questions. Do they have EPA permit, is it political, do they have digging license, is it political, do they have operating license, is it political, do they have parliamentary approval, is it political? What is political about these questions am asking? Maybe I don’t understand it.

“Until Monday, when people started mentioning Engineers and Planners, I didn’t even know Engineers and Planners had anything to do with this issue because the company name that was given to me had nothing to do with Engineers and Planners and so anybody can think about what he thinks…

“What I’m saying is, is it too difficult to ask simple questions like where is their EPA permit, where is their digging permit or license where is their operational license, where is the parliamentary approval for the contract or agreement? Is it difficult and is it political?

“Assuming the company is for Ibrahim Mahama as people are alleging, then is it because he’s the brother of the former president so we don’t need to ask?”

Source: radiooneghana.com