Akara Resources Public Company Limited บริษัท อัครา รีซอร์สเซส จำกัด (มหาชน) "ไขความจริงเหมืองทองคำอัครา หลัง คสช. ลงพื้นที่จัดระเบียบ" "Akara Resources is committed to help surrounding communities." Thailand’s leading mining company Akara Resources Public Company Limited has announced that it will take full responsibility to look after any villagers living in the vicinity of its gold mine in Phichit province if it is found that they are suffering from any adverse health effects caused by the mining operations. “We have a proud tradition of ensuring that we operate at world class standards and it is highly unlikely that any illnesses claimed by a small number of villagers are caused by our operations,” Akara’s Chief Executive Officer Pakorn Sukhum said. “Akara has always valued our neighbors and local communities are the lifeblood of our workforce so we will help where help is needed – this is our responsibility as a good corporate citizen,” Mr. Pakorn added. A joint venture between a leading Thai company, Lotus Hall and the leading Australian gold-mining group Kingsgate Consolidated, Akara Resources has been operating the country’s largest gold mine in Phichit province for more than 10 years using world-class standards in technology, safety, environmental health and waste management. Notably, there have been no environmental issues throughout the entire operating period. With Thailand’s Ministry of Industry revamping its gold mining royalty regime to be within world standards with a progressive rate in the year 2550, Akara pays between 7 and 20 percent royalties based on the gold price. These royalties have amounted to more than 3.2 billion baht on an accumulated basis since the company commenced operations in late 2001. Akara will stand by its promise to help those local villagers who need it, and welcomed a strong showing of community support when almost 2,000 people comprising Akara workers, their family members and villagers living in the mine’s vicinity signed an open letter in support of the company’s positive management of the environment and its contributions to the social and economic well-being of the surrounding communities. The open letter came after the local activists had submitted a petition bearing the names of 179 villagers to the NCPO, accusing the mine of harming the environment and the villagers’ health. Some of the villagers subsequently lodged complaints with local police that their names were used by the local activists in the petition without their knowledge. However, the NCPO had since ordered a comprehensive hearing into the dispute, including the conduct of blood and urine tests among villagers living around the mine. Akara Resources will cooperate fully with the NCPO and looks forward to continuing to showcase the excellent community and environmental stewardship at the Chatree Mining Complex. Ends. For more information, please visit: www.akararesources.com

• published: 08 Sep 2014
• views: 2650