Canyon Resources Limited moves ahead with another milestone development for their Minim Martap Bauxite Project in Cameroon by submitting the ‘Environmental and Social Impact Assessment’ (ESIA) on 1st June 2021 to the Ministry of Mines, Industry and Technological Development (MINMIDT).
An Africa-based advisory services firm, ESS (Environmental and Social Sustainability) focused on Health, Safety, Environment and Communities (HSEC) management, managed the development of the ESIA on behalf of, and in collaboration with, Canyon Resources.
The ESIA is a crucial section of the mining permit application process and has been undertaken in line with national legislation, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) Performance Standards and other key international standards, frameworks and guidelines. The scope of the ESIA covers the three exploration tenements (Minim Martap, Makan and Ngaoundal), and includes the haul route between the mine and the inland rail facility at Makor, the rail line itself between Makor and Douala, infrastructure at the port of Douala, as well as the transhipment route and deep water anchorage location.
National Cameroonian consultancy Rainbow Environment Consult and international consultancy Golde Associates were selected to support ESS with the ESIA. Baseline studies were undertaken covering physicochemical, biodiversity and socio-economic parameters. Public consultations were undertaken with communities and other stakeholders to provide feedback and to contribute to the development of socio-culturally appropriate management measures.
Key impacts that the ESIA addresses through aspect specific socio-environmental management plans (SEMP) include land acquisition and compensation, air quality, noise, water resources and limited biodiversity impacts. The ESIA contains a fully costed management plan for how the Project will mitigate each impact, including concerning mine closure and rehabilitation. The costs are consistent with those forecasted in the Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS).
Canyon acknowledges that HSEC management requires a long-term engagement, and the impact of COVID-19 has meant that a phased approach to addressing identified impacts has been adopted. As is usual for a project of this magnitude, further targeted studies and management planning will be undertaken as part of identified mitigation measures.
Adrian Mill, Managing Director of ESS and Project HSEC Lead, stated: “ESS is very pleased to have supported Canyon via our Cameroon-based team in delivering the ESIA under tight deadlines and given the challenges of operating during the COVID-19 pandemic. We look forward to supporting Canyon in setting up the HSEC management systems and managing HSEC throughout the development cycle.”
James Durrant, Director of Projects for Canyon Resources added: “The ESIA completion and submission is an excellent achievement and milestone, and thanks are given to all the participants in delivering this to schedule. The ESIA highlights the project as having low-to modest adverse impacts which are simple to manage given the development and implementation of robust management systems which is the next phase of our ESG journey”.
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