The Minerals Commission has disclosed that some trucks captured in a viral video alleged to have been carrying explosives without a police escort was empty.
According to the commission, the owners of the truck Solar Nitro Ghana Limited had sought permission from the Western Regional Manager of the Commission to transport explosives to the mining site of one Perseus Mining Ghana Limited on February 17, and this was executed with all necessary protocols including a police escort.
The commission explained that the video was captured after the trucks had offloaded the explosives and was returning to base empty and without the need for a police escort.
Read the statement below:
The Commission wishes to inform the public that on 16th February 2022, the Operations Manager of Solar Nitro Ghana Limited (Solar Nitro) notified and requested the approval of the Western Regional Manager of Mines of the Commission to transport explosives from the operation site of Solar Nitro to the mining site of Perseus Mining Ghana Limited (Perseus) in Ayanfuri on February 17, 2022.
Solar Nitro has been registered as a mine support service company to deal in explosives and has also been issued with all the requisite permits and approvals by the Chief Inspector of Mines/Explosives to transport explosives.
A Principal Inspector of Mines from the Takoradi office of the Commission was assigned by the Regional Manager to carry out all the necessary inspections pursuant to the Minerals and Mining (Explosives) Regulations, 2021 (L.I. 2177)and also as set in the new safety measures recently issued by the Acting Chief Inspector of Mines/Explosives to all mining, explosives, quarries and other related mining companies.
On February 17, 2022, around 09:15am, the Principal Inspector of Mines was at the operational site of Solar Nitro to conduct all the necessary safety inspectionsand verifications. There were two (2) trucks with registration numbers GT 1821-14 and WR 1301-18 that were on the site to convey explosives to Perseus Mining Ghana Limited.
The Principal Inspector of Mines after being satisfied that all the requisite safety protocols and all other regulatory requirements pursuant to L.I. 2177 have beenmet (including but not limited to the presence of two police escorts, a competent person onboard, explosives trucks registered and fit for purpose), allowed the trucks and the escorts to leave the site of Solar Nitro.
The explosives were delivered to the mine site of Perseus and the trucks returned to the operational site of Solar Nitro without the police escorts and there were no explosives onboard. This was apparently captured and circulated as the trucks that were carrying explosives without escorts.
The public is hereby notified that following the explosion that occurred in Apiatseon January 20, 2022, fourteen (14) new safety measures have introduced to strengthen the existing regulations and protocols for the transportation of explosives and most importantly to protect the health and safety of the public as well as the environment.
The Commission wishes to remind the media and the public that the Commission is available to provide information on all mining activities or operations in Ghana and the public is advised to seek clarification or verify such information with the Commission before they are made public.
JOHN AMOANYI, ACTING CHIEF INSPECTOR OF MINES/EXPLOSIVES
Source : Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh
