Gold mine leak to be fixed by weekend

Christopher Serju, Gleaner Writer

Work under way to neutralise the deadly solution now leaking from a tank at the AUSJAM gold mining facility in Crawle, Clarendon, is expected to be completed by weekend.

Carlton Campbell, managing director of the CL Environmental Company, the consultants working in collaboration with the National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) and the department of Mines and Geology in the Ministry of Energy and Mining, explained that the process is tedious and cannot be rushed.

"In the present situation it cannot be welded. Can't put fire near it," he advised The Gleaner.

"What we are doing is treating the cyanide-polluted water with hydrogen peroxide. This is expected to react and destroy the cyanide. We expect it to take probably a couple of days. The reaction time is short but given the volume and rate at which we are applying it. We expect it to be at least until Friday/Saturday."

deadly gas

However, if not done correctly and the ph balance of the solution falls too low, becoming acidic, then there is the possibility of hydrogen cyanide, a deadly gas being released.

"It kills, you die," the consultant said in answer to questions about this happening.

However, in addition to wearing protective clothing, including respirators, the team has a probe immersed in the solution which understandably, is monitored at all times.

With the tank still leaking, the team has put a catchment container underneath from which the solution is being pumped back into the tank. Meanwhile, the solution is being pumped into one of four smaller tanks from which it will be gravity-fed to the others for treatment.

What happens thereafter in terms of the neutralised solution is up to NEPA and the Geology and Mines department which are the lead agencies on the multi-agency initiative.

Meanwhile, environment minister Dr. Horace Chang who on Wednesday toured the facility in the company of Minister of Mining and Energy, Clive Mullings and Member of Parliament for North Central Clarendon, Pearnel Charles, expressed satisfaction with the steps being taken to make the facility safe.

The cyanide leak was detected by NEPA during investigations into the sudden death of a cow after the animal drank water from a restricted area. A number of warning signs have been erected on the property, with security guards also on duty there to prevent any similar incidents.