Ghana's environmental authority targets Cardinal and others in mining crackdown
GFI•Ghana's Environmental Protection Authority issued Cardinal Namdini Mining a pre-closure notice over an alleged unreported accident and shut down Earl International Group over a compliance issue; Earl said it was cleared to resume operations. The authority is reviewing inspection findings from Gold Fields' Tarkwa operation.
1. Enforcement expands
Ghana's Environmental Protection Authority has issued a pre-closure notice to Chinese-owned Cardinal Namdini Mining over an alleged failure to promptly report a tailings pipeline decoupling that caused a spill. The authority also shut down Chinese-owned Earl International Group last week over a legacy compliance issue linked to illegal gold mining activity.
2. Earl resumes operations
An Earl spokesperson said the company addressed the EPA's concerns and was cleared to resume operations on Monday, citing an environmental permit signed by the regulator's chief executive on September 28. The EPA also fined AngloGold's Iduapriem mine last year for environmental breaches, which the regulator declined to detail.
3. Gold Fields review
The EPA is reviewing findings from an inspection of Gold Fields' Tarkwa operation to determine whether further engagement with the company is needed. Gold Fields said it was notified on September 14 of plans for a broad environmental, social, governance and socio-economic impact assessment and had sought more time to review its scope.
