Slide 1: Merian Gold Project ESIA Public Meetings - August 2011
Merian Gold Project Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Public Meetings - August 2011
Slide 2: Welcome & Introductions
Welcome & Introductions Purpose of Public Meeting: • Inform interested groups about the Project • Describe Merian Project • Listen to your potential concerns
Slide 3: Ground Rules
Ground Rules • Mutual respect, courtesy, and patience. • Please help maintain an atmosphere where everyone feels comfortable and welcome. • Please don’t interrupt anyone while they are speaking. • Please remain quiet so everyone can hear; please leave the room for side discussions. • Please turn off
Slide 4: Agenda
Agenda 1. Project Description 2. The Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) 3. Questions and Answers 4. Closing Remarks
Slide 5: Who Are Surgold?
Who Are Surgold? • A company held by Newmont & Alcoa with Newmont as the manager • Exploring in Merian area since 2004 • No gold production yet – awaiting agreement with state
Slide 6: What is the Merian Project?
What is the Merian Project? Project Location • Approximately 66km South of Moengo • Between Commewijne and Marowijne Rivers Merian • Langa Tabiki is the Project Langa nearest village Tabiki (approximately 10km from site) • Approximately 40km north of Nassau Mountains
Slide 7: Project Components
Project Components The Project will need the Pits following components: • 3 – 4 open pits • Processing Plant • Waste rock storage • Tailing storage • Power generation Tailings • Water Treatment facilities • Offices and Right of Exploitation accommodation Boundary
Slide 8: Example Open Pit
Example Open Pit Ww SURGOLD
Slide 9: Examples of Processing
Examples of Processing Above: example of gold processing plant Left: example of leach tanks
Slide 10: Example Machinery
ate etietay le Machinery § ees Sy age: Ww SURGOLD
Slide 11: Waste from the Project
Waste from the Project Above: example of waste rock storage Below: example of tailings facility
Slide 12: Project employees
Project employees: • Approximately 1,500- 2,000 during construction (including temporary contractor for construction) • Approximately 900 Current Merian Exploration Camp during operations
Slide 13: Simple Mining Flow Diagram
Input: Mined Rock Crush Rock Float in Tanks Grind Rock Output: Total production approximately 350,000 Recover 95% Gold oz per annum. Approximately 11 year ‘mine-life’ Simple Mining Flow Diagram
Slide 14: Mine Transport Route
Transport Route Mine Transport Route
Slide 15: Mine Closure
Mine Closure • Protect environment & public health & safety – ensure physical and geological stability of land • Sustainable use of site after closure – continuous reclamation & rehabilitations of land back into forest • Minimize negative effects after closure to environment and community - monitori
Slide 16: Example Mine Closure - Indonesia
Example Mine Closure - Indonesia APRIL 2003
Slide 17: Example Mine Closure - Indonesia
Example Mine Closure - Indonesia May 2008 – Five years later
Slide 18: Example Mine Closure - Indonesia
Example Mine Closure - Indonesia
Slide 19: Example Reclamation of Mine - Indonesia
FEBRUARY 1999 MAY 2000 Example Reclamation of Mine - Indonesia MARCH 2000 SEPTEMBER 2006 MAY 2007
Slide 20: Example Reclamation of Waste Rock - Indonesia
2003 2004 Example Reclamation of Waste Rock - Indonesia 2005 2007
Slide 21: Environmental and Social Impact Assessment
Environmental and Social Impact Assessment What is an ESIA? A process to determine the effects of a Project on people and the environment. Promote positive impacts & reduce or avoid negative impacts
Slide 22: Four Components of an ESIA
Four Components of an ESIA Environment Air and water quality Waste and noise Plants and animals Social Health Cultural/heritage Community health Employment/livelihoods Health services Education Behaviors
Slide 23: Who will do the ESIA?
Who will do the ESIA? Environmental Resources Management (ERM) will conduct the ESIA. • Independent, international consultant specialising in ESIAs • ERM is an international environmental consulting firm with over 30 years of experience in impact assessment • 40 countries, 3,000 employees - global e
Slide 24: ERM's Role
ERM’s Role • Surgold has contracted ERM to prepare the ESIA for the Proposed Merian Project • ERM is separate from Surgold, they have commissioned ERM to: – Act as independent consultant to conduct the ESIA – Recommend measures to promote the positive and minimize the negative effects of the Project
Slide 25: What are the requirements for an ESIA?
What are the requirements for an ESIA? ERM will follow best practice guidelines for the ESIA: • Surinamese National Institute of Environment and Development in Suriname (NIMOS) guidelines • International Standards (International Finance Corporation Performance Standards) This means the ESIA will: –
Slide 26: What does an ESIA involve?
What does an ESIA involve? • Scoping – Identify likely impacts and studies required • Impact Assessment – undertake studies to understand existing conditions & predict potential changes. – Design ways to promote positive & reduce negative impacts • Monitoring and Evaluation
Slide 27: Environmental Studies
Environmental Studies • Groundwater Study • Air Quality Studies • Noise Study • Plant Study • Animal Study • Soil Study • Traffic Study • Surface Water Quality Study
Slide 28: Environmental Study Area
Mine Site Environmental Study Area The area that may be affected by changes to the environment caused by the Project Langa Right of Tabiki Exploitation Boundary Studies – August 2011 to February 2012
Slide 29: Social and Health Studies
Social and Health Studies In the villages that could be affected • Survey of households that may be impacted • Interviews and groups discussions in impacted villages • Health studies September 2011 onwards
Slide 30: Social and Health Study Area
Social and Health Study Area Transport Route Study Area (in blue) The area that may be Mine Site affected by changes to Merian Study the conditions in local Area (in yellow) villages: • area surrounding mine site Pamaka Study Area (in blue) • area along road • Pamaka villages
Slide 31: Public Consultation
Public Consultation • Public input is a critical component of the ESIA process – Solicit input from you throughout the ESIA process – Ongoing communication via mail, radio, email, and newspapers Consultation Principles: Inclusive, culturally sensitive, transparent
Slide 32: Review & Publication of ESIA Findings
Review & Publication of ESIA Findings • Distribute ESIA report to NIMOS, government & other interested groups • Hold meetings to present impacts, the assessment & mitigation / management measures • Receive public comments on the impacts & mitigation
Slide 33: ESIA Terms of Reference
ESIA Terms of Reference To Describe the purpose and structure of the ESIA Available from: • Surgold Office - Paramaribo (Suriname Straat) • NIMOS office – Paramaribo • Surgold Camp - Merian
Slide 34: Overall ESIA Schedule
Overall ESIA Schedule Date ESIA Process/Activity August, 2011 Public meeting August 2011-Februrary Baseline Studies 2012 February –March, 2012 Impact Assessment Studies March – April 2012 Prepare Draft ESIA report & hold public meeting to disclose findings May 2010 Finalize ESIA report June 2012 Del
Slide 35: Next Steps
Next Steps • Social & Cultural Heritage studies • Environmental studies • Will keep interested groups informed • Disclosure meeting around April 2012
Slide 36: Project Contacts and Information
Project Contacts and Information ERM For ESIA questions or comments: Salomon Emanuels Phone: (0) 8553324 Email:salomonemanuels@yahoo.com / merian.esia@erm.com Surgold For Project related questions or comments: Project point of contact: Wendell Asadang Phone: (0) 8638655 / 7172880 Email: wendel.asada
Slide 37: Closing Remarks
Closing Remarks • ESIA must be complete before exploitation right awarded by government • ESIA is crucial to Project development • You will have the opportunity to participate • The ESIA results will be presented to you so you can comment.
Slide 38: Thank you for your time! Questions?
Thank you for your time! Questions?