PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Gold miner Kingsgate Consolidated is “urgently” seeking clarity over a new twist in its application to renew its metallurgical processing licence at the Chatree gold mine, in Thailand.
The miner in October submitted an application for a five-year renewal of the Chatree metallurgical licence, as the lodgment of the renewal application was required 60 days prior to its expiration, under Thailand’s laws.
However, the Department of Primary Industries and Mines has now responded to the application, telling Chatree that a new committee has been established, called the National Mineral Management Policy Committee, to develop a new mineral management policy.
The new committee will also be considering the renewal of the Chatree mine’s metallurgical licence, in line with the new mineral management policy.
Kingsgate said on Friday that it was not known when the new mineral management policy would be finalised, or how it would affect the metallurgical licence renewal.
Only 29 days were left until the current metallurgical licence expires, and Kingsgate will be forced to cease operations at the Chatree mine.
The miner said that appropriate arrangements had been made for the Chatree mine to transition into care and maintenance on January 1, 2017.
Ceasing operations at Chatree will result in the loss of over 1 000 direct and contractor jobs.