Spain was a major source of gold to the Roman Empire nearly 2,000 years ago. Today a Canadian mining company seeks to reopen or at least extend these old gold resources.
Specifically Astur Gold lead by Cary Pinkowski seeks to open and operate the Salave Gold Mine in northern Spain. By the mere chance of airplane seating assignments, I found myself chatting to Cary on a recent long flight. His enthusiasm for the project is infectious and thus I blog about him and the proposed mine.
You can get all the conventional information on the company website. Download the technical documents and study them if you are into investing in such ventures. Or contact him yourself to question him—he is pretty approachable and ready to tell you of his doings.
When I chatted again with him and he told me that recently there was a 1,000 person gathering in support of the project; apparently the locals (at least the majority thereof) want the work and economic boost the mine will bring.
Cary tells me the gathering was indeed in support of the mine. And so it should be for Spain is in dire need of work and relief from austerity and German banking demands. And he was correct, for today came this news:
“Astur Gold is pleased to announce that the Commission for Environmental Affairs of the Principality of Asturias (“CAMA”) has issued a positive Environmental Impact Statement (“EIS”) for mine development at the Salave gold project in Asturias, Spain. The EIS approves the majority of the elements in the Environmental Impact Assessment (“EIA”) the Company submitted on May 17, 2012, including the construction of the underground mine, 2.7km decline, an underground crushing plant, ventilation shafts, waste dumps, and surface stockpiles, as well as ancillary facilities associated with the planned mine such as access, the power line, and the concrete plant.Additional information regarding water quality discharge limits and handling was requested before approving the mill and tailings facilities. Astur Gold is moving to expedite requested info as soon as possible. The CAMA did not include the planned exploration drift and its auxiliary facilities because these were not considered critical to the process of mineral extraction and therefore the environmental impacts are avoidable.
“We are grateful for the outstanding contribution and support of thousands of members of the local community who have shared their ideas and concerns regarding the social, environmental, and economic aspects of the project. We are extremely pleased with the Asturian Government’s approval of all major mining elements of the EIA, which is the most important step toward bringing the Salave gold project into production,” stated Astur Gold President and CEO Cary Pinkowski. “Together, our company and the community can now progress toward construction on the mine for the benefit of the entire region. I would like to publicly thank our team in Tapia for their tremendous effort and professionalism in achieving this major milestone.”
The meeting was held in Oviedo on November 27, 2012 under the Chairmanship of the Minister of Development, Planning and Environment, Belén Fernández. The agreement has been adopted by the affirmative vote of all representatives of the Principality of Asturias and the CHC.
The Minister of Development, Planning and Environment, Belén Fernández stated this decision is taken “with the law in their hands, which will reconcile environmental protection and defense of economic activity”.
Astur Gold is excited about the future given this major permitting success on one of the highest valued assets in Europe. The share count remains intact over the last two years at only 34.5 million shares outstanding. Astur Gold is poised to deliver substantial returns to shareholders.”
The mine would be close to communities . But to return to my old refrains that mining can be done close to towns and mines can be closed to the benefit of communities and for the long-term I urged on him to arrange this trip:
- Britannia Mine Museum
- Butchart Gardens on Vancouver Island
- Cannon Mine in Wenatchee
- The Cahokia Mounds in Illinois
- Andujar, Spain. – see picture above.
I have volunteered to accompany the trip as a guest lecturer.
