The notice comes from the Minister of Mines, Industry and Technological Development, Gabriel Dodo Ndoke.
The Minister of Mines, Industry and Technological Development (MINMIDT), Gabriel Dodo Ndoke, dissatisfied with the way in which mine sites are treated after their exploitation, served formal notices to 20 mining companies for the restoration of their old operating sites in 60 days.
More specifically, the Minister’s inquiry concerns sites in the Eastern and Adamawa regions. In fact, MINMIDT is addressing “20 mining companies, to be more precise … to restore all the abandoned sites that have been subject to exploitation. Operators who, since last April 1, have 60 days to undertake restoration work.”
This restoration of the previous operating sites conditions the continuation of activities in the field of various companies involved.
Mining activities, in accordance with the principles of sustainable development must be considered as a temporary use of land … after exploitation, the soil must be returned to the state it was in before disturbance ( clearing of the ground, radical modification of the landscape, deviation of the course of the rivers, complete disruption of ecosystems, etc.) “
MINMIDT means by this, “the return of degraded mining sites in a safe and stable physical state matching the characteristics of the surrounding landscape”, we read.
In the event of refusal to comply with the Minister’s decision, “Defaulters are exposed to the withdrawal of their operating permits. Without prejudice to legal proceedings, moreover, specifies the daily. “