The Guyana Geology and Mines Commis-sion (GGMC) yesterday said that no lives were lost following blasting activities at Aurora Gold Mines Inc. in Region Seven on November 27 but two employees experienced “associated discomfort”.
The mining regulatory agency issued a statement following social media posts.
Blasting involves the controlled use of explosives to break the rock and enable the recovery of the ore at a mining site.
GGMC said while the matter is still being investigated, contrary to these circulated posts, it confirmed that “no lives were lost but two employees had experienced associated discomfort from the effects of the activity”.
The agency said that Aurora Gold Mines Inc. which is operated by Chinese firm Zijin has been fully cooperating with the relevant authorities on this matter and advised that clarification be sought from the GGMC before arriving at conclusions and making assumptions about what transpired.
Stabroek News was reliably informed that the Head of Occupation, Health and Safety Department at the Ministry of Labour also confirmed that there were no fatalities.
“A few persons complained of being affected by the blasting, but were sent out to be medically evaluated and were found to not be seriously injured”, sources told this newspaper.
Aurora Gold Mines Inc. (AGM) in a press statement also responded to allegations which surfaced on Facebook. The company categorically denied the allegations deeming them false and misleading.
It claimed that no recorded incident has occurred involving harm to individuals due to the use of illegal dynamites in the underground tunnels of Aurora Gold Mine.
“AGM Inc. adheres rigorously to safety protocols and strictly complies with guidelines set by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission. Our commitment to safety and responsible mining practices is paramount”, the statement read.
“The GGMC actively monitors and regulates our mining operations to ensure strict adherence to safety and environmental standards.
“We emphasize that false allegations can have severe consequences, potentially damaging the reputation of AGM Inc. and its stakeholders”, the statement continued.
“We request all members of our community to verify information from credible sources before sharing or endorsing it”.
“AGM Inc. remains committed to transparent and responsible communication. We appreciate your understanding in this matter and assure you of our dedication to upholding the highest standards in our operations”, the release concluded.
Recently, two trucks collided at the mine and one person died.
