JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – A ruling by the Federal Supreme Court of Ethiopia has eliminated all claims against Aim-listed gold miner Kefi Minerals, releasing it from potential liability regarding an inherited claim for damages.
This followed a judgment earlier this year that reduced the company's liability from $12-million to $600 000.
A claim had been lodged against Kefi based on the impact of exploration field activities conducted between 1998 and 2006, a period which predated Kefi’s involvement in the Tulu Kapi gold project.
The exploration activities comprised the construction of drill pads and access tracks. No objections had been made until 2014 when certain parties from outside the Tulu Kapi district raised the matter and initiated court action against Kefi.
The Oromia Regional Supreme Court earlier this year rejected 95% of these claims as having no legal basis and reduced Kefi's potential liability.
However, Kefi’s appeal to the court with regards to the remaining $600 000 has now succeeded and the company is no longer liable for any damages.
“If another appeal is raised, which remains a possibility, we would defend our position on the basis that we remain firmly of the belief, on legal advice and as previously reported, that Kefi has no contingent or actual liability,” the company said in a statement.