The Carnegie Minerals Gambia (CMG) Ltd, an Australian mining company in The Gambia, has confirmed the increase of its capital investment in its mining programmes in the country from US$1.3 million to D2.5 million, according to the reports from the Office of the President.

This development came about, after the company successfully implemented its exploit in the country; which entailed: the confirmation by drilling of the deposits, the testing of the large amount of samples in laboratories in Australia, USA and China; the search for buyers of the product around the world; and conducting trial mining operations.

In a letter addressed to President Yahya Jammeh, the company disclosed that the expected local employment requirement has also increased from 80 Gambians to 150, as a result of the corresponding increases in capital investment the company also confirmed its will to train this workforce as operators of heavy machinery and light mechanics, welders, survey assistants and computing.

The CMG company also confirmed its diligence to increase its production level over the course of 2007, adding that it will upgrade the roads in the mining area to facilitate the transportation of heavy mineral concentrate to the port.
“In this light, CMG has drilled six boreholes in the vicinity of Brufut, Batukunku and Sanyang. The borehole drilled by the company at the Brufut trial mining site has already been handed over to the government, through the Department of Geology, for the use of the communities in the area,” the reports added.

The company then assured that, it will spare no efforts in preserving the environmental integrity of the mining areas, adding that it “will conduct its mining operations in accordance with the Environmental Management Plan agreed with the National Environment Agency and internationally recognised standards”.
As a show of its commitment, CMG indicated the successful rehabilitation and restoration of Brufut trial mining site. “CMG has the goal to work hand-in-hand with the government to leave the mining area in a form suitable for subsequent development of parks; golf courses, tourism facilities or other use, as may be required after the implementation of mining operations,” it noted.

The company then commended President Jammeh for granting them the mining license, and used the opportunity to congratulate him on his landslide victory. The company invited President Jammeh to officially inaugurate CMG’s mining operations in Sanyang and to visit the mining sites at Sanyang and Batukunku.
“Your Excellency, please allow me to express my sincere appreciation for your support to this project and to wish you, your family, your government and the entire Gambian people, a happy and prosperous new year,” the letter added.
Meanwhile, the Rotary Club of Banjul, has wished President Jammeh and his family continued “good health and God’s blessings in the new year, and to pray that He will continue to give you the wisdom and strength to lead this nation to higher heights”.