He Akwa Ibom State Government has shut down a Chinese mining company, Ruitai Mining Company, for failing to submit an operating license.
This was stated by the state’s Commissioner for the Environment and Mineral Resources, Uno Eno, when briefing journalists in Uyo.
Eno said the company could not provide authorization documents for mining titanium ore in the state’s Ibeno community.
He said the company had been quietly mining titanium ore in the area, before it was intercepted and ordered to produce the relevant documents.
He added that during the inspection it was found that the company could not submit a mining license or an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report to show the impact of its operations on the host community.
“The joint ministerial inspection team, including the Permanent Secretary, Ms. Iquo Abia, upon their arrival at the Ibeno community, was guided through the mining site by the Chairman of the Ibeno Local Government Area, High Chief Williams Mkpa.
“The team discovered black clay-like minerals contained in 50kg sacks, which the miners identified as titanium ore.
“During a critical examination of the site amid tight security, the company’s CEO Zeng Zhonghuan and a director Huang Ying were not available at the site. Available staff members were unable to provide any information or documents,” Uno said.
One said the Ministry of the Environment found that the company was purely an exploration company, while the board of directors consisted of Chinese nationals who were not eligible to acquire the small-scale mining license as claimed.
“The Ruitai mining company must stop its mining operations immediately, until the proper authorization with the state government legitimizing its operation is completed,” he said.
(YAYA)
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