- Title: Akara's Kingsgate CEO refutes health damage claims caused by Thailand's gold mine
- Date: 19th May 2016
- Summary: BANGKOK, THAILAND (MAY 19, 2016) (REUTERS) AKARA'S PARENT COMPANY, KINGSGATE CONSOLIDATED LTD. CEO, GREG FOULIS, TALKING FOULIS (SOUNDBITE) (English) KINGSGATE CONSOLIDATED LTD. CEO, GREG FOULIS, SAYING: "What we're dealing here is a situation that's come as both a shock and a surprise to us. We don't have all the answers, and as I mentioned earlier, what we need to do is to clearly understand the government's intent position and motivation." FOULIS' ARM (SOUNDBITE) (English) KINGSGATE CONSOLIDATED LTD. CEO, GREG FOULIS, SAYING: "For example, you mention muscle weakness, what's that related to what's the cause? At the end of the day, you have to understand the cause, the symptoms. What we've always done, we've always said, we will test anyone that comes forward, we will support investigation. But again, what we need is to work with real proof and real situations, not media-based allegations." FOULIS TALKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) KINGSGATE CONSOLIDATED LTD. CEO, GREG FOULIS, SAYING: "I think the (Thai) government understands very well clearly that there's a majority support for our operation, the benefits that it provides. However, the government hasn't found the mechanism to deal with those protest or interest groups." FOULIS TALKING PROFESSOR AT RANGSIT UNIVERSITY, SMITH TUNGKASMIT, SITTING AND TALKING (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) PROFESSOR AT RANGSIT UNIVERSITY, SMITH TUNGKASMIT, SAYING: "Arsenic and manganese comes together with gold mineral. Geographically, manganese and arsenic is found within 'belt of gold', therefore in what we call Thailand's gold belt area, manganese and arsenic are quite high." SMITH (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) PROFESSOR AT RANGSIT UNIVERSITY, SMITH TUNGKASMIT, SAYING: "The tailing pond and the mine which operates everyday is right close to the community. Although, there's no clear evidence that manganese and arsenic comes from the mine, we clearly see that there's definitely a side-effect, while people had no complaints about it prior." SMITH TALKING
- Embargoed: 3rd June 2016 11:37
- Keywords: Thailand Akara Kingsgate CEO gold mine health damage Pichit
- Location: BANGKOK, PICHIT / THAILAND
- City: BANGKOK, PICHIT / THAILAND
- Country: Thailand
- Topics: Company News Markets,Economic Events
- Reuters ID: LVA0024IH34WD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Akara Resources' Australian chief on Thursday (May 19) refuted the claim that Thailand's only gold mine is the cause of health damage, saying that the government's decision to ban gold mining is "a shock and surprise".
The Thai government has earlier ordered the closure of all gold mines in the country on May 10. It plans to formally notify the Australian operator of the country's only active gold mine by the end of May of a government order to halt operations, a senior industry ministry official said on Wednesday (May 18).
The Chatree mine, owned by Kingsgate Consolidated Ltd, has been at the centre of protests by farmers and villagers who say that it has poisoned residents, crops and livestock.
Last year, a government-led team said that more than 300 people had tested positive for arsenic and manganese at the mine. The company at the time denied it was to blame and the mine was allowed to reopen after a 44-day suspension.
Most villagers who filed complaint and that Reuters have spoken to said they experience symptoms of weakening muscles and anorexia.
Kingsgate CEO Greg Foulis stressed that the gold mine does not use manganese and arsenic in any of their operations and that the company is ready to test the victim's health to prove their debate.
Previous tests carried out by the government indicated that about 100 people living around the mine had high levels of toxic substances in their bodies, but investigations linking the finding to the mine were inconclusive.
Smith Tungkasmit, a professor who joined the government team as an analyst, said despite the inconclusive investigation result, there's seems to be side-effects from the mine on the people's health and that, geographically, there are high levels of manganese and arsenic present in areas where there's gold. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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