Translation. Chuffed to see the rise!28 Apr 2020 16:28
Sputnik: You're also in charge of the mines. The Société Générale des Mines received the license to mine the manganese deposit at Nayéga in late 2020 to generate nearly $ 16 million and 250 direct jobs. Do you think that the coronavirus crisis will delay this exploitation?
Marc Ably-Bidamon: The great advantage of manganese from Nayéga is that it will be mined in the open and, therefore, it does not require the deployment of complex tools. The equipment used for on-site ore extraction and processing tests carried out between October 2018 and March 2019 has shown that extraction is fairly easy. These systems are still in place. The process of acquiring and installing new equipment had started even before the Covid-19 pandemic.
In view of the strong measures taken by the government to protect the population and thus fight against the spread of this epidemic, we believe that the impact of the health crisis will be very minor on the process of setting up production units and the period planned for the effective start of exploitation of this deposit.
Sputnik: The Togolese state only owns 10% of this project. To what extent can we consider that Togo is a winner in this initiative?
Marc Ably-Bidamon: Indeed, in accordance with the provisions of the law, the State takes a non-paying participation of 10% of the capital of the mining companies. Apart from the dividends that will be paid annually to the State for its free participation in the share capital, it should be noted that the law requires all mining companies to contribute to the local and regional development of the areas in which they operate in our countries with 0.75% of their turnover.
This financial contribution paid by mining companies does not exempt them from their social and environmental responsibility. Finally, it should also be noted that hundreds of direct and indirect jobs will be generated by the opening of this mine for the benefit of young people, to name just that.
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