PRECIOUS METALS

"There is no ban on the use of cyanide for gold mining…"

Columbus moves to reassure on French Guiana situation

Staff reporter
Columbus moves to reassure on French Guiana situation

Columbus moves to reassure on French Guiana situation

It said it had fielded "multiple inquiries" regarding whether cyanide in gold mining was banned within the European Union, which includes French Guiana.

Montagne d'Or has a 2.75 million ounce gold reserve and is a joint venture between Columbus (45%) and Nordgold (55%).

The pair's joint venture company and Columbus itself have recently become signatories to the International Cyanide Management Institute's voluntary Cyanide Code, which Columbus said were important steps towards acceptability of the gold mine's development but seemed to have prompted queries.

"As a result of multiple inquiries recently received by shareholders and stakeholders concerning an alleged ban on the use of cyanide for gold mining in the European Union (which includes French Guiana), Columbus wishes to clarify unequivocally that: there is no ban on the use of cyanide for gold mining by the European Union," the company said.

It said a proposed ban on cyanide was rejected by the European Commission in 2010 and again last year, citing the EC's response that there was "at present a lack of better alternative technologies available at a commercial scale". 

Montagne d'Or's mineral processing plans outline gravity concentration followed by cyanidation of the gravity tailings and cyanide leaching of the gravity concentrate, which Columbus said would meet regulatory requirements.

The joint venture partners made a construction decision in December 2017 and permitting is underway for the project.

A 2017 bankable feasibility study put initial capex at US$361 million for a 12-year operation producing an average annual 214,000 ounces at an all-in sustaining cost of $749/oz.

In an update last month, Columbus said it was working with a French government taskforce which was assessing the impacts of the development of the gold mining industry in French Guiana, where Montagne d'Or was the "most advanced large gold project".

Earlier this month, Nordgold CEO Nikolai Zelenski said the company expected to transfer its development expertise to its "next major development project", namely Montagne d'Or.

Columbus shares have slid since trading above C80c in mid-January. They closed down more than 7% yesterday to 19c, 1c above a 52-week low, to capitalise it about $30 million.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Journal Intelligence team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Journal Intelligence team.

editions

ESG Mining Company Index: Benchmarking the Future of Sustainable Mining

The ESG Mining Company Index report provides an in-depth evaluation of ESG performance of 61 of the world's largest mining companies. Using a robust framework, it assesses each company across 9 meticulously weighted indicators within 6 essential pillars.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence Global Leadership Report 2024: Net Zero

Gain insights into decarbonisation trends and strategies from interviews with 20+ top mining executives and experts plus an industrywide survey.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence Project Pipeline Handbook 2024

View our 50 top mining projects, handpicked using a unique, objective selection process from a database of 450+ global assets.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence Investor Sentiment Report 2024

Survey revealing the plans, priorities, and preferences of 120+ mining investors and their expectations for the sector in 2024.