Mine firm wants OK for new extraction point

An oilfield services firm wants permission to shift the baryte extraction point at a mine it got consent to form in Highland Perthshire over four years ago.

Schlumberger Oilfield UK has applied to use an old trial adit to move the mineral out of Duntanlich mine west of Pitlochry after a hold up getting a new passage ready.

A planning statement sent to Perth and Kinross Council says the delay was a result of crews encountering“unforeseen ground conditions”while tunnelling underground. The statement explains: “The proposed development is required due to underground tunnelling activities associated with the main mine portal ... being behind schedule due to unforeseen ground conditions.

“The delay in tunnelling being complete is preventing the extraction of barytes until the main mine portal is operational.

“The temporary use of the trial adit would allow barytes to be brought to the surface for processing and onward transport ... in advance of the main mine portal being completed.

“The proposed development would be temporary, with use of the existing trial adit and existing track to bring barytes to the surface required to no later than December 31, 2021, by which time the main mine portal access will be fully operational.”

The council’s development management committee had to determine the company’s initial application to form the mine back in September 2016 after the proposal drew 36 separate complaints from local residents.

People from Logierait also organised an online petition protesting the creation of an access road to the mine at the time.

The petition claimed the development would look“entirely out of character and scale with the existing, small, residential and rural village”and could prove “detrimental to ... tourism activity in Logierait”. The petition drew 394 virtual signatures.