Shaanxi mining company has requested that illegal miners who created tunnels linked to its site be made to close them.
Following the death of sixteen persons in January, Minister of Lands and Natural resources, Kwaku Asomah Cheremeh directed that all illegal pits linking to the Shaanxi Mine be closed to prevent the activities of illegal mining.
Shaanxi mine and its partners were charged sixty thousand dollars for various infractions leading to the explosion that claimed over a dozen lives.
However, the Public Relations officer of Shaanxi mine, Maxwell Wooma has indicated that the company will not bear that cost of the filling.
“A letter has since come for us to resume work but we are saying we will not resume work until these pits that are connected to our underground are filled. We understand that the illegal miners have run to court and have secured an injunction on the filling of these pits. We will wait for these pits to be filled before we resume work. So far, all our workers are still at home apart from those who are running the mine under care and maintenance.”
The mining company has over the years been contending with trespassing from illegal miners.
Eight illegal miners are currently before a court on charges of unlawful entry into the operational area of Shaanxi mining company and stealing gold ore.
Shaanxi Mining had its licence suspended in 2017 over safety concerns after the operations of illegal miners led to the seven deaths.
Shaanxi Mining was eventually allowed to commence operations on August 28, 2017, after a three-month suspension because the company had improved safety standards.
It is yet to resume operations following the January order to suspend operations to allow for the probe.
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By: Marian Ansah/citinewsroom.com/Ghana
