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Mining: Growing backlash against groups who are ‘minting it’

Richard — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:52:23 +0000

The [gold] informal rush is indicative of a broader problem with the country’s mining sector – the sense that foreign companies have minted it from their concessions delivering few benefits either to the Ghanaian economy or to the wider population beyond the employment they provide…Governments across Africa are trying to extract more revenue from the mining industry against the backdrop of booming commodity prices and widespread perceptions that the region’s mineral wealth has not translated into broader prosperity…The corporate tax is problematic, however. Ghana granted stabilisation clauses to many of the companies who rushed to the country in the 1990s and thereafter. Any subsequent changes to the terms, would be a breach of contract. AngloGold Ashanti, for example, has said it does not expect to be affected by the new taxes because of the agreement it signed with the Ghanaian state in 2004…

See http://www.business-humanrights.org/Links/Repository/1010152.

Colombia’s mining boom overshadowed by human rights violations

Richard — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:43:43 +0000

A report by Peace Brigades International (PBI) declares that Colombia’s current mining boom is overshadowed by human rights violations and mass displacement of residents in mining areas. “80% of the human rights violations that have occurred in Colombia in the last ten years were committed in mining and energy-producing regions, and 87% of Colombia’s displaced population originate from these places,” says the report published by the international human rights organisation last week.

Among London-listed mining companies active in Colombia are Anglo American, AngloGold Ashanti, BHP Billiton, Glencore, Rio Tinto and Xstrata.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11381&l=1.

Mining’s toxic sludge threatens Johannesburg

Richard — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 18:27:48 +0000

Thousands of people face evacuation from greater Johannesburg in the Gauteng province – the economic heartland of South Africa – due to toxic sludge from abandoned gold mines laced with high radiation levels.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11315.

Among companies which have mined for gold in South Africa over many years are London-listed Anglo American and AngloGold Ashanti. It is unclear whether any of their former operations are implicated.

Ghana to hike taxes on mining companies

Richard — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 18:16:25 +0000

Ghana will seek to boost revenues from its mining industry next year by hiking taxes, according to a text of the 2012 budget delivered to parliament recently. The corporate tax rate on miners will increase to 35 percent from 25 percent and a separate 10 percent tax on windfall profits will be introduced, according to the text.

Firms operating in Ghana include subsidiaries of Newmont Gold, London-listed AngloGold Ashanti and South Africa-based Goldfields.

See http://af.reuters.com/article/investingNews/idAFJOE7AF06Z20111116.

Colombia mining projects delayed over environmental issues

Richard — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 15:56:36 +0000

Colombia’s foreign-led Angostura and La Colosa mining projects have been delayed due to environmental concerns. Angostura is owned by Eco Oro, formerly Greystar, a Canadian company listed on London’s Alternative Investment Market (AIM). La Colosa is owned by notorious South African-based AngloGold Ashanti, which has a listing on the London Stock Exchange.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11274&l=1.

Ghanaians demand justice from gold miners

Richard — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 12:23:16 +0000

A Ghanaian business magazine has revealed that the state holds no stake in any of five major gold mining enterprises operating in the country. Ghana’s Mine Workers Union is calling for a windfall tax to be applied to excess profits made by the industry.

Among the gold mining companies active in Ghana is London-listed AngloGold Ashanti.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11246.

PICKET!! STOP LA COLOSA GOLD MINE

Richard — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 16:00:48 +0000

2pm on FRIDAY 14 OCTOBER at the Colombian Embassy at 3 Hans Crescent, London, SW1X 0LN.

Nearest tube: Knightsbridge.

Organised by:

Colombia Solidarity Campaign

Movimiento 22

COLOMBIA, the second most BIODIVERSE country in the world, home to 105 INDIGENOUS CULTURES, is under theat by MINING MULTINATIONALS. Mining titles now cover 8% of national territory. London-listed ANGLOGOLD ASHANTI holds the majority of them, many in Indigenous or Afro-Colombian lands, or areas with UNIQUE or IRREPLACEABLE ECOSYSTEMS. Land is being handed over to mining companies with the blessing of the Colombian state.

On 3 June this year, 13,000 people marched in the streets of Tolima to say YES TO LIFE, and NO TO LA COLOSA MINE. Unless stopped, La Colosa will become the largest open cast gold mine in South America. Nestled in the Colombian Andes in an area of strategic importance as a ‘water factory’, the CYANIDE used to process the ore will contaminate water for drinking and irrigation for the wider region. Colombians are demanding the right to continue living in a clean and safe environment.

The people of Tolima will march again on 14 OCTOBER. They would like Colombians and Friends of Colombia throughout the world to show their Solidarity, by convening at their closest Colombian Embassy on the day to say YES TO LIFE, and NO TO THE MINE. Our solidarity is of utmost importance as recently, threats have been received by opponents of the mine in Anaime, near Cajamarca, Tolima.

Bring Placards, Banners and let’s make a noise!!

More info:

Report: LA COLOSA: The Quest for El Dorado in Cajamarca, Colombia
http://www.colombiasolidarity.org.uk/mining/548-la-colosa-the-quest-for-el-dorado-in-cajamarca-colombia

Documentary: Gold Fever in Cajamarca http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHxcZZ50opU

Documentary: AngloGold Ashanti in Ghana http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7Mz4hsCEpk

Threats to opponents of the mine: http://www.elnuevodia.com.co/nuevodia/tolima/regional/112789-campesinos-de-anaime-amenazados-por-coincidencias

Colombia to the Congo: Lust for Gold Threatens Environment & Human Rights

Richard — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 09:44:26 +0000

Nestled alongside the central range of the Andes lies the town of Cajamarca, Colombia, also known as la dispensa agricola de Colombia: literally Colombia’s agricultural larder. The fertile environs surrounding this settlement of twenty thousand souls play host to bumper crop of coffee, peas, kidney beans and fruits. Nourished by fresh mountain springs that in turn trickle downwards toward the rice growing lowlands of Tolima, Cajamarca, sits amidst a contrasting landscape of agricultural endeavor and natural beauty.

But this is threatened by AngloGold Ashanti‘s mining plans.

See http://www.towardfreedom.com/americas/2549-colombia-to-the-congo-lust-for-gold-threatens-environment-a-human-rights

AngloGold May Lift Output 68% by 2020 Excluding Acquisitions

AngloGold Ashanti Ltd (ANG), the third- largest producer of the metal, may increase output 68 percent by 2020 excluding any acquisitions as it seeks to reverse declines.

See http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-26/anglogold-ashanti-says-production-could-rise-to-7-6-million-ounces-in-2020.html.

Human rights violations continue in Ghana’s mining sector

Richard — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 14:54:07 +0000

International humanitarian organization Oxfam America calls on Ghana’s government to address ongoing human rights violations in the West African nation’s mining industry.

The call to action comes after 23-year old Kwame Eric was shot to death August 10 by an employee of Ghanatta Security Services, a private security firm hired by gold mining company, Anglo Gold Ashanti.

See http://www.oxfamamerica.org/press/pressreleases/human-rights-violations-continue-in-ghanas-mining-sector.

Who will own South Africa’s mines?

Richard — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 14:51:55 +0000

Radical elements within South Africa’s ruling ANC have been campaigning for outright nationalisation of the country’s mines. In part-response, Mines’ Minister Susan Shabangu, claims that securing a 26% “black ownership” (BEE) of the mining industry as a whole will be fulfilled by 2014.

But Ms Shabangu has an uphill task: less than 9% of mines actually met this target in 2009. She says: “One problem has been companies that got into the sector with little or no experience, that were not viable or that were seen as fronts for white capital. Mine safety is another major issue…the pursuit of profits [is] behind a mounting death toll in the industry”.

Among the major London-listed companies active in South Africa are Anglo American, AngloGold Ashanti, BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto and Xstrata.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11131&l=1.

Another shooting incident at AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine in Ghana

Richard — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 16:28:00 +0000

There has been another shooting incident at the AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine during which 23-year-old Kwame Eric of Binsere, near Obuasi, was shot by a detail of a private security organisation engaged by the Company. He was shot at the South Tailings Storage Facility near Dokyiwa Village on Wednesday, August 10, at approximately 1930 hours.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11114&l=1.

Tanzania in talks with miners to raise gold export taxes

Richard — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 16:18:21 +0000

Tanzania’s government is in talks with mining companies to raise royalty payments on gold exports as well as negotiating other possible tax hikes. African Barrick Gold has four gold mines in Tanzania while Australia’s third largest gold miner, Resolute Mining and South Africa’s Anglogold Ashanti (with a listing also in London) also have gold mining operations there. British mining company African Eagle Ltd is raising funds for its nickel project in Tanzania.

See http://www.mineweb.com/mineweb/view/mineweb/en/page72068?oid=133487&sn=Detail.

South African mineworkers wage war on economic injustices

Richard — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 14:39:07 +0000

Although several, pay-related, gold mine strikes have just ended in South Africa, this doesn’t by any means mark an end to struggles for elementary economic justice on the part of large numbers of workers. In a statement of 28 July 2011, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) stated: “[T]his industrial action by mineworkers should not be de-linked from the broader class struggles of radically changing the ownership and control patterns of the strategic sectors of our economy such as steel, banking and mining… The mineworkers should also use this industrial action to call for progressive taxation, so that the rich pay more in the form of taxes and the disclosure of company profits as a platform from which to advance the quest for a living wage.”

AngloGold Ashanti is one of the companies affected.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11099.

Colombia raises doubts on AngloGold’s La Colosa gold project

Richard — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 13:04:51 +0000

Doubts have been raised in Colombia about possible adverse environmental issues in relation to AngloGold Ashanti’s big La Colosa gold project

See http://www.mineweb.com/mineweb/view/mineweb/en/page103118?oid=132411&sn=Detail&pid=92730.

Colombia’s comptroller warns about AngloGold project

The use of water resources for a major AngloGold Ashanti project in Colombia could threaten agriculture and human populations, the country’s comptroller said in a letter. A river basin may be jeopardized by the massive La Colosa project, potentially reducing water supply for agriculture and consumption, said Colombia’s comptroller, Sandra Morelli, in a letter to the environment minister.

See http://www.miningweekly.com/article/colombias-comptroller-warns-about-anglogold-project-2011-07-28.

AngloGold Ashanti is a South African company with a listing on the London Stock Exchange.

UK Parliamentary Question on AngloGold Ashanti in Colombia

Richard — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 14:44:47 +0000

(Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 20 July 2011, c1057W))

William Bain (Glasgow North East, Labour): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to his counterpart in Colombia on potential levels of population displacement in connection with the proposed development of the La Colosa gold mine in that country.

William Hague (Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs; Richmond (Yorks), Conservative): We have not made representations to the Colombian Government on this specific development. I discussed the regulation and environmental impact of mining with the Colombian Foreign Minister on Wednesday 13 July and agreed to continue cooperation to help improve standards in this area.The key concerns for non-governmental organisations and the Colombian media about the proposed development are over water use and environmental impacts of the operation rather than population displacement. Currently, the development is only in the exploration phase, and the Colombian Government will need to give further approval before mining operations can begin. This will be in line with the new Mining Code which the Colombian Government are currently developing. We will continue following the development of the code to ensure that environmental provisions are robust.

See http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2011-07-20a.67474.h.