Guinea’s government has allowed Predictive Discovery to mine gold near a habitat for critically endangered western chimpanzees. The Bankan Gold project could extract over 3 million ounces, despite environmental concerns indicating potential harm to local wildlife. PDI has committed to avoiding certain protected areas; however, the risks associated with mining activities linger as operations may begin by 2026.
The Government of Guinea has granted an environmental compliance certificate to Predictive Discovery, an Australian mining company, permitting it to proceed with gold mining in an area inhabited by critically endangered western chimpanzees. The Bankan Gold project, located in the northeast section of Upper Niger National Park, is anticipated to yield 3.05 million ounces of gold, marking it as a significant discovery in West Africa.
The issuance of the environmental compliance certificate to Predictive Discovery raises significant concerns for the long-term survival of the western chimpanzee population in the region. Despite assurances of compliance by the mining company, the potential for habitat destruction and species displacement remains a pressing issue. As mining operations are set to commence soon, the balance between development and conservation continues to be a critical challenge.
Original Source: news.mongabay.com
