Mine bosses challenge health report
The management of a suspended gold mine in Phichit have challenged a report by an expert which says the mine’s activities have caused adverse health impacts on the local community.
Pakorn Sukhum, CEO of Akara Resources Plc, said results of blood tests conducted on villagers by Central Institute of Forensic Science (CIFS) chief Porntip Rojanasunan earlier this week may not necessarily be related to mining.
The results showed high levels of arsenic and manganese in some samples.
A 30-day suspension order issued by the Department of Primary Industries and Mines on Tuesday was based on the results of blood tests. Blood samples from 730 villagers living near the gold mine were given to CIFS for testing in November.
Mr Pakorn insisted the mine has adhered to state rules on safety standards and has submitted an environmental report to the Pollution Control Department every three months for the past seven years.
He said he would meet Primary Industries and Mines chief Surapong Thianthong today to discuss the matter, adding the suspension had tainted the company’s image.
He also said it would adversely affect the mine workers.
Mr Pakorn said the mining firm has provided the local community with fresh water for consumption to allay any fears mining work may have contaminated local water sources.
Meanwhile, villagers yesterday claimed that mining was still going on.
They claimed they heard explosions coming from the mine yesterday afternoon.
Local leader Suekanya Theerachatdam-rong said villagers would monitor the mine to ensure it follows the suspension order.
She also expressed concern over the mine’s safety measures saying toxic substances could easily contaminate the air, soil and eventually water sources.
The Department of Primary Industries and Mines on Tuesday ordered the Akara Resources gold mining company to suspend its gold extraction operations at its plant in Phichit’s Thap Khlo for 30 days. In the same order, the company was told by the department chief to take care of medical services for the villagers affected by mining operations.
The order came one day after the Central Institute of Forensic Science released the results of the fourth round of blood tests which show that half of the 600 villagers living around the mine were found to have above-normal levels of heavy metals in their bodies.
At best, the 30-day suspension of operations which was reportedly heeded by the company constitutes just temporary relief for the poor villagers of Thap Khlor district of Phichit, Wang Pong district of Phetchabun and Phitsanulok’s Noen Maprang district who have, for years, been opposing the mining operations and demanding they be stopped completely.
Department chief Surapong Chiangthong was reported to have said the suspension order did not mean that Akara Resources Company committed any wrongdoing but its gold extraction operations might jeopardise humans and animals alike.
But what’s next after the end of the suspension period? Is there any guarantee that resumption of the operations will be safe and will no longer pose any harm to the health of the villagers?
Mr Surapong also complained he has previously ordered the mining company to improve the environment around the mine and tend to villagers’ medical needs, but without success.
The question is why no action was taken against the company and why the department has to wait until now to issue the suspension order.
It should be noted that in May last year the Phitsanulok Administrative Court ordered the department to revoke the permit allowing the company to build and use a second storage pond for mining waste.
The court also prohibited the department from approving the company’s expansion plan.
There is little doubt that the Akara Resources Company’s mining operations at Khao Jed Look in Thap Khlo district have negative impacts on the villagers living around the mining site.
Besides the 300 or so villagers who have tested positive for high levels of heavy metals in their bodies, such as manganese and arsenic above safe levels, their livelihoods and those of their neighbours have been badly affected.
Their traditional water sources have been contaminated; they now have to buy water for drinking. Their natural water sources which were once used for agriculture have dried up because they have been blocked for use in mining.
Although the health problems of the affected villagers are not evident now for many of them, there is a serious concern the problem will emerge in the future and more people will be affected if the mining operations are allowed to continue unchecked.
The plight of the villagers in Thap Khlo district is also shared by their fellow countrymen in Loei’s Wang Saphung district where Tungkhum company is mining for gold.
The affected villagers and the company engaged in confrontation, occasionally marred with violence, until the junta stepped in to settle the conflict, much to the chagrin of the villagers.
If the government really cares for the livelihoods of the people and the environment more than the economic gains from the mining industry, it should rethink its policy on mining operations.