AMN - BOTSWANA: Giyani tailings clean-up approved

The Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) in Botswana has approved Giyani Metals Corporation’s proposal to clean up the old mine tailings at its three prospects - K.Hill, Otse, and Lobatse. This is within the framework defined by Giyani's Environmental Management Plan (EMP) submitted to the DEA in September.

The company believes its clean up proposal is both advantageous for the local communities and a viable route for early economic return for the company.

Giyani's CEO Robin Birchall said: “We are very pleased with this decision by the DEA in Botswana. This will enable Giyani to implement a cost-effective and reasonably quick EMP to rehabilitate the three sites and make them much safer than they are today.

"By doing so, the company believes it will be able to collect the manganese-bearing stockpile material from all three sites and process it into a valuable product that could generate cash flow for further project development.”

Working closely with the DEA, the Giyani team, in partnership with a local environmental consulting firm, inspected the three sites where previous manganese mining operations existed several years ago.

The sites were left unrehabilitated and constitute various degrees of physical risks and negative impact on the local environment.

The Giyani proposal included three EMPs uniquely designed for each site to address specific issues.

Giyani has also been working very closely with the local communities to take their input into the process and ensure the EMPs are designed to produce a satisfactory outcome that will enhance conditions in the area.

Giyani has started the EMP work on the ground, including continuous consultations with the communities and archaeological studies as agreed with the DEA.

www.giyanimetals.com