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Dalradian defends Co Tyrone gold mine plans

Dalradian Gold official Brian Kelly (centre) pictured at a recent consultation event
Dalradian Gold official Brian Kelly (centre) pictured at a recent consultation event Dalradian Gold official Brian Kelly (centre) pictured at a recent consultation event

A CANADIAN gold mining firm has said details of plans to extract gold in the Sperrin Mountains with the use of cyanide were revealed as far back as 2012.

Dalradian Gold plans to use the chemical at a site near Greencastle in Co Tyrone.

Some local people however are concerned about the impact the mine may have on the health of residents and the environment.

Dalradian has insisted the use of cyanide is highly regulated and the plant will minimise impacts on the environment and wildlife.

Officials say details of the proposals were revealed by the firm as far back as 2012.

However, residents say that although they were aware of mine proposals, they only learned of the cyanide processing plant proposals earlier this year.

Managing director Brian Kelly also rejected suggestions that the company was vague about the firm’s plans.

“We had five events in January where we said this is where we are at this is, this is how far we have go, this is where we see the thing progressing through the next 12, 14, 16, 18 months,” he said.

“If we were perhaps as Machiavellian maybe as some might think why would we have said anything in January.

“We could have just said nothing and wait and then six or eight weeks before the application goes...hide ourselves and then the application goes in shortly after.”

Mr Kelly said the firm has been open about its plans for the area and has hosted several public events to outline their proposals.

He added that the proposed cyanide processing plant will handle just a small amount of the material produced by the mining operation.

“In terms of percentages we are saying roughly a tenth of all of the material will go through that, the other 90 percent doesn’t,” he said.

Dalradian director Paddy Downey said the firm shares the concerns of many locals.

“We have exactly the same concerns about handling chemicals and using them,” he said.

“That’s why we have systems and processes that we have.

“We are not going to ask somebody to work on a project that’s going to endanger their livelyhoods, that’s not going to happen.”

Mr Downey, who has worked on mining projects across the globe over a 30 year period, said the firm intends to install specialist systems to treat potential chemical waste.

“We have exactly the same concerns about how the chemicals are handled, treated, used and disposed of.

“We have also the same concerns about making sure that all of the water before it's released meets or exceeds receiving water quality.

“This is an incredible complex plant for water treatment that you would not normally see.

“We have exactly those concerns and that’s why we have gone through the level of work, the level of detail that we have gone and when the planning application is submitted we will show that.”

The firm recently held two consultation sessions in Co Tyrone and intends to submit a full planning application early next year.