Atlantic Lithium lists on GSE to promote Ghanaian ownership — Muller

Atlantic Lithium, Ghana's first Lithium mining company to possibly begin operations, has successfully listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange.

The Chief Executive Officer of Atlantic Lithium, Keith Muller, said the move was to allow Ghanaians and Ghanaian fund managers and investors to share in the ownership of the company.

He was speaking at a community engagement with chiefs and people from the communities catchment area at Krofu near Mankessim.

Hundreds of community members, including 12 chiefs from the catchment communities and three paramount chiefs from the area, turned out for the engagement at Krofu, near Mankessim.

The meeting was the second with them this year after the EPA and the mining company first met them on Tuesday, February 13 at Ewoyaa to brief them on the project and elicit their concerns. 

He said the company intended to work shoulder to shoulder with its local communities, implementing industry-standard sustainable practices to ensure that the land was appropriately managed and rehabilitated to ensure benefits from the project continued long beyond the lifetime of the mine.

Mr Muller said the Ewoyaa Lithium Mining and Processing Project in the Central Region of Atlantic Lithium is on track to become Ghana's first lithium mine, and a significant global producer of hard rock lithium, a vital material in the fight against climate change.

During the construction phase, he said the company would create more than 800 new jobs and contribute to local industries and infrastructural development and drive community development initiatives focused on sustainable socio-economic growth.

He said the company had met all the mining lease requirements, including delivering reports on downstream processing of lithium, report on production of feldspar and its support for the local ceramic and associated industries in Ghana.

“As we await parliamentary ratification of the mining lease, EPA permit, mine operating permit and other project permit, I am happy to share that we have met all mining lease requirements”, Nr Muller said.

He said discussions were also progressing on the establishment of the community development fund with one percent of revenue.

"The financial resources allocated to these commitments and other community supports over the years, even before the commencement of mining is a testament to the resolve of our company to be good corporate citizen and return good value to the local community and Ghana as a whole," he stated.

Mr Muller urged the communities to be prepared for training and possible employment.

He said the company was committed to unreservedly uphold the highest possible standards in its activities and ensure it acts in the best interest of the local stakeholders.

Rumours

Meanwhile the Environmental Protection Agency dismissed rumours  suggesting that Atlantic Lithium, had begun operations. 

The Deputy Executive Director of Operations, EPA, Ransford Sakyi, said the agency had toured all proposed sites for the project and found no sign of operation. 

He explained that there was no way the company could start operating as it was yet to secure an environmental permit from the EPA and operating permit from the Minerals Commission. 

The Deputy Executive Director of Operations of the EPA, Ransford Sakyi asked the communities to report any issue of noncompliance to the EPA to take appropriate actions against the company.

Concerns

Some of the community members expressed grave concerns about employment, crop and land compensations, air and water pollution, and resettlement and security issues.

The youth from the 12 communities affected expressed suspicions of deceit and exploitation.

They threatened to advise themselves if promises of development made by the company were not fulfilled

The mining project is expected to comprise construction and operation of mine pits, waste rock dumps, processing plant, tailing storage facility, workshops and ancillary facilities.

Robust environmental measures

Meanwhile, representatives of Barari DV Ghana Limited, a subsidiary of the company, making a presentation on the company's environmental impact statement reiterated 
that robust measures had been taken to reduce the negative impacts of the project.

The General Manager of the company, Adam Ahmed-Salim gave the assurance that the cultural heritage would be protected and resettlement undertaken with dignity and respect.