Bangkok--17 Aug--Akara Mining
Akara allowed to make use of public land plot/ Phichit governor says the gold mine will create local jobs
Plan approved by Khao Chet Luk Tambon Administration Organization vote of 23 to 1.
The Khao Chet Luk Tambon Administration Organization approved with a vote of 23 to 1 Akara Mining’s planned use of the public road that has been shut for more than eight years for its new tailings storage facility expansion project. The public hearing reflected that the majority of the voters agreed with the plan, believing Akara’s investment in gold mine would help create local jobs and drive the provincial economy.
President of the Khao Chet Luk Tambon Administration Organization disclosed that as the Khao Chet Luk TAO and Thap Khlo District had held a public hearing on 31 July 2012 to obtain the view of residents in Moo 3 and Moo 3 areas, of Tambon Khao Chet Luk, on the request made by Akara Mining to use a public road in Ban Nong Raman as its tailings and waste water storage, the Khao Chet Luk TAO on 15 August 2012 organized a meeting to discuss the issue. The meeting acknowledged the matter and passed the public hearing’s resolution with a vote of 23 to 1. After the meeting, members of the Khao Chet Luk TAO will have to provide their signatures before further submitting the report to the Thap Khlo District.
A total of 840 residents in Moo 3, Ban Khao Din, and Moo 8, Ban Nikom, took part in the public hearing, with 560 yes vote, 269 no votes and 11 invalid votes.
Phichit governor Suwit Watcharothayangkun said he had been preliminarily informed of the public hearing on the use of public land plot for the 500-million-baht tailings storage facility expansion project on a 1,000-rai plot of land by Akara Mining, which would allow the company to run its business for another ten years. He is now expecting the official minutes of meeting by the Khao Chet Luk TAO.
“The gold mine investment by Akara Mining will benefit the province as it will create job opportunities in the community and stimulate the provincial economy”, says the Phichit governor.
Earlier, the Administrative Court dismissed the opposition’s petition against Akara Mining’s gold mine business. The petition stated that the mine created environmental and health problems. Nonetheless, the inquisition and field studies by the Court showed that the company’s operations did not harm humans, animals or plants to the extent that it was not possible to manage.
Concerning the petition for the suspension of Akara’s project to construct the second tailings storage facility to support the factory expansion, which alleged that such establishment would be partially constructed on the Ta Wai — Ang Hin route used by local residents, the court dismissed the petition which cannot be appealed. The court pointed out that all Akara Mining operations were legal and such public route was located in the land plot owned by Akara Mining itself, with an official deed.
The road, initially created by the previous landlord for personal use, had been shut and unutilized for eight years. On top of that it was a dead-end road and not connected with the Highway 1301 main road.
The protestors’ attempt to have the court to shut the Akara gold mine was carried out in every way, which has been driven - by the intention of some land speculators who want to sell land to Akara at an overpriced rate for personal benefits, without concern for the fact that more than 1,000 local residents’ would receive a jobs would be affected as well as the loss of over several hundred million baht per year that Akara Mining pays to the government in taxes and royalty fees.
About Akara
Akara Mining Limited is a joint venture with Kingsgate Consolidated Limited (Australia). The company was granted gold mine license to operate in the area of Phichit, Phetchabun and Phitsanulok provinces. Akara’s gold mine in Thailand uses modern manufacturing technology that meets international standards and has attained certification in ISO 9001 for quality, OHSAS 18001 for safety, ISO 14001 for environment and the SA8000 for corporate social responsibility. Akara has also received the international Cyanide code certification and operates a laboratory that meets the industry’s ISO/IEC 17025 testing standards. These certification are proof the mine’s safety, health and environment criteria are on par with international standards.
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