A decisão saiu ontem! Progresso Nacional na linha da frente da informação.
The case was brought up by the public prosecutor due to the failure by
the Russian company to observe the environmental regulations, the
statement said.
On several occasions, Guinea Bissau President Jose Mario Vaz had
demanded the suspension of heavy sand mining in Varela due to lack of
transparency in the issuance of the mining licence to the Russian
company.
Recently, the president announced his intention to revise all mining
contracts signed before his arrival in power, noting that so far,
there’s no trace in the budget of payment of taxes or royalties for
exportation of the country’s timber or heavy sand.
Poto SARL which in 2013 got a five-year licence to mine heavy sand in
Varela where the mineral deposits are estimated to be over a million
cubic meters that could produce 119,000 tons of zircon, ilmenite and
rutile, is also facing opposition from the region’s population.
Following the suspension, senior officials of the mining department
including its director general have been arrested for involvement in
corruption. Enditem
Source: Xinhua
