Colombia’s government has
approved a partial permit for Anglogold Ashanti to
carry out limited exploration work for the country’s La Colosa
gold mine, the environmental ministry said on Wednesday.
The permit allows the world’s No. 3 gold miner to
temporarily explore on 6.39 hectares of the site, where critics
say the mining project threatens forest reserves, a spokeswoman
for the ministry said, referring to a released statement.
Environmental officials halted activities at the mine in
central Tolima province a year ago due to concerns over its
impact on the forest reserves, and the project has since become
a point of contention for some lawmakers.
La Colosa has estimated reserves of more than 12 million
ounces. Production could start within five years once work
begins on the mine, and future output is estimated at 700,000
ounces of gold a year. (Reuters)