Member Info for scotalba

Sorry for the typo.

I would like to add, I do think Elizabeth Henson will provide very good value, she has my backing.

@elir71, I agree with your views on the resolutions

I would like to I do think Elizabeth Henson will provide very good value, she has my backing.

You need to be signed in, the FILTER TAB cab be found above the "Post A Message heading" along side
Regular Share Chat -Premium Share Chat . Just click on it and select the nickname of the person you want to filter ie " scotalba" copy and paste it in, and your done. Then all the filtered message should appear green saying "This message has been filtered, please adjust your filters to view" you can turn the filters on and off.
Hope that helps, not the greatest explanation I am sure.

noviceinvesto filtered.

@elir71, thank you, likewise for your posts also, they are very much appreciated.
Yes you are correct in all of what you say. In that all NEW significant ground-based activities in or adjacent to the Clogau-St David's Mine which involve permitting will be deferred for the reasons you state, and also because to apply for more permits now, whilst the other three are outstanding could cause a further delay in the outstanding permits. As we know our current applications are also dependent on the HRA.

Your post: "Am I correct in understanding that all applications to the NRW bar the Habitat Assessment are suspended, with the view that the other applications should take considerably shorter a time, once and if the HRA is granted as they refer to and are therefore dependent on the HRA ?

Alba can not process the tailings (Waste tips) as they need another type of permission/permit from NRW to do this. To apply for this waste tip permission before the HRA /Species license and other two out standings permits are decided could cause more complications and delay the three applications that are now in process. So Alba have to wait on the other permits, before applying for the waste tip permission, however the fact that Alba will have the HRA/Species license when they do apply for waste tip permission should dare I say speed things up, along with any other permits sought in the future for work at Clogau.
Hope that helps.

To clarify for any one new.
Alba are waiting for news on three applications, one in relation to a species permit, one in relation to a water quality permit and one that relates to a temporary water abstraction license.
A further delay in news has occurred because NRW recently requested more information/data for the species license.
As this Species application required a Habitat Regulations Assessment, the determination has taken considerably longer than the standard 40 working day service level agreement set by NRW. The Species license will be determined in parallel with other permits required to operate on site(the water permits)
For the species license. NRW require surveys no older than 2 years old to assess complex applications therefore the current application is a stand alone application with no reliance on the 2019 application.
It is not unusual for determinations to take several months when the application is complex and multiple permits are required or where further information is requested, add that to delays because of significant workload , high volume of applications and the current backlog of work and reduced staffing, and this is where we are now, just waiting.

Good post, I totally agree Wolves,
In my post I was not really commenting on the complex nature of the case, I think I took that for granted that this was a given, more the general situation we find ourselves in at the moment. If you have read my posts in the past including my earlier one today, from all the info I have been receiving from NRW they tell me its all highly complex, and this of course adds time to the permit applications( I do still think its taking to long) . I do know how complex the HRA and Species License app is. I am very familiar with previous HRA application report submitted by Alba's team, and Alba team have gone above and beyond all that had been asked. You are correct in reminding everyone that once the permits and particularly the European Species license are granted this will speed up further permit applications going forward, George F has stated this will be the case.

My thoughts are that NRW are being over cautious in the issuing of the permits because of the sensitivity to environmental issues at this time. It is the Species License that is holding things up and I think NRW are making it absolutely watertight, so not to have any risk at all of repercussions at a later date. Mention of a Gold mine in a National Park, is enough alone to get activist groups and protesters interested, throw in the mention of animals being disturbed particularly bats, and it could be manor from heaven for some people to jump on (in this case) this misguided band wagon of saving bats from destruction, along with the national park being turned into a lunar landscape by monstrous excavators whilst poising the rivers for good measure.
I think its totally unfair that Alba are having to go through such a rigorous procedure that is taking far to long. The outcome I have no doubt will be positive, I have never detected any negative vibes from anyone I have herd from directly involved in the permit processing, in fact its the opposite. My answer to your question Robbie, it not fair or just, but NRW may just be responding to the times we are living in right now and have to act in an appeasing way for self protection. I don't like it one bit.

So my man with a dog did talk to me on Friday, but no new news, but at least he did speak.Just said, still in the still in the assessment phase and none of the three permits have yet been determined. Its not unusual for things to take so long when complex and multiple permits are required and where further information is requested.

I have no new information on the permits, from what I understand we are waiting for the application to be "Duly Made Assessed" and this is the next big announcement we need, along with the EPS license. I think the news on both may coincide. Although we do not need the EPSL to be "Duly Made Assessed" The time frame I was given for duly made assessed was 14 Weeks from the application being submitted, this was a guideline and had to take into account delays for reasons given previously. This 14 week deadline has passed, but I do think this is because they are waiting for EPSL news first as without it, we can not get the water permit anyway. To start the duly made assessed then not be able to get the EPSL would be a total disaster, not that I think we will not get the EPSL.
I was also told previously that "The determination for some permits can take up to 4 months from the date they are duly made" but I am in the dark like everyone else at the moment. My man with a dog is remaining tight lipped.

https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/welsh-gold-mines-1-clogau-wales-feb-2022.134915/

https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/welsh-gold-mines-2-vigra-wales-2022-2023.135025/

Good to get some, I would say very positive news this morning. I have been quiet on the subject for a while as I have had no information form my "man with a dog" since the 3rd Feb 2023, when I was told pretty much that no more information would be forthcoming. Robbie some excellent posts this morning on the de watering situation.
For me this RNS dose tell me something of note.
We know this is being treated as a NEW application, as such the next milestone we are looking for will be when the application is Duly Made. After reading today's RNS and listening to the VOX, I think that the Duly Made issued is being held, and as soon as the Environmental issues are resolved, we will get the duly made issued releaed.
This differs from Albas previous application when Duly Made was issued before the Environmental issues were resolved, leading to the refusal of the permits due the Environmental issues at a later date .
To sum up. I now believe when we get Duly Made issued, we can say for sure that we will get the permits.
Of course we must remember one thing, that once Duly Made issued the water quality application information will be published on NRW public register this then leads to the the public consultation stage of the decision making process, with the application available for external consultation and examination before the permit decision is made. I can not see Alba having any problems with this part of the application, it will just be a case of how long it will take.
Frustrating as always but its nearer than its ever been.

Cheers Robbie..

The reasons for the current time before applications are Duly Made assessed is due NRW Water Quality permitting expecting a very high volume of applications, a current backlog of work and reduced staffing . They have a significant workload and and are under resourced. Nothing more nothing less. Don't shoot the messenger, but this is how it is. They are doing their best and working on Alba application as quickly as possible. This post will go down like a lead balloon, but at least its from the horses mouth, not speculation.

https://naj.co.uk/jewellery-news/the-igda-welcomes-the-engagement-of-vivien-johnston-glass-as-sustainability-chair

NRW being Meticulous is frustrating I agree, but it is not a bad thing when news like this came out yesterday.
"The joint campaign by North Wales Wildlife Trust and Stamp Out The Red Route to stop the proposed A55-A548 'Red Route' link road, in Flintshire, has been successful!

The Welsh Government has supported the Road Review Panel's recommendation (14 February 2023) to abandon the proposal for a 13km dual carriageway, which would have damaged and destroyed wildlife habitats in its path, including ancient woodland, wildflower meadows, centuries-old hedgerows and other habitats as well as all the species that rely on them including bats, barn owls, badgers and otters."

The time and effort taken to get these permits completed by Alba and now NRW in the right way, that ticks all the environmental boxes, and goes above and beyond, will be worth waiting for, and be well worth it in the end. NRW are working hard for Alba, and working on our permits as fast as they can.

Cheers Robbie, confirming my post from a couple of weeks ago..
"Sometimes comments on here refer to our directors not buying shares, and some ask why GF has not been buying if Alba are such a "good thing" right now. So it dose seem, that since George F last purchase of Alba Stock he has not been able to buy any more Alba shares, even if he had wanted to as there has been what is classed as sensitive activity going on in the background. Its worth noting that even without this ongoing de watering application, there are very few windows in which the Alba directors can buy shares, as any inside information of GreenRoc is also inside information for Alba, and that includes not just project-related information but also the 30-day close period pre the reporting of financial results - which essentially turns that into a 60-day period as GreenRoc goes first with its accounts and Alba then follows after so that Alba can include the GreenRoc numbers in the consolidation. So all in all I don;t think we can read anything into the fact that, Alba directors have not been buying shares, whilst this dewatering is being sorted out"

Sometimes comments on here refer to our directors not buying shares, and some ask why GF has not been buying if Alba are such a "good thing" right now. So it dose seem, that since George F last purchase of Alba Stock he has not been able to buy any more Alba shares, even if he had wanted to as there has been what is classed as sensitive activity going on in the background. Its worth noting that even without this ongoing de watering application, there are very few windows in which the Alba directors can buy shares, as any inside information of GreenRoc is also inside information for Alba, and that includes not just project-related information but also the 30-day close period pre the reporting of financial results - which essentially turns that into a 60-day period as GreenRoc goes first with its accounts and Alba then follows after so that Alba can include the GreenRoc numbers in the consolidation. So all in all I don;t think we can read anything into the fact that, Alba directors have not been buying shares, whilst this dewatering is being sorted out.

I did a bit of digging and now have clarity on the European Species License, as to the question of -will Alba successful acquisition of the 2019 European License (mentioned by Lodes in a previous thread) have any influence on Alba's new EPS application, in terms of speeding up the application process. The answer is no it wont help. NRW require surveys no older than 2 years old to assess complex applications therefore Alba's current application is a stand alone application with no reliance on the 2019 application.
I still believe NRW are doing their best, as quickly as they can to get thing done for Alba.