Phoenix Prince Mine reopening awaits EMA EIA certificate, miner register update

Phoenix Prince Mine reopening awaits EMA EIA certificate, miner register update

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Mining activity at contested gold claims is expected to resume after the Ministry of Mines lifted a suspension order, but miners and contractors have been told work will only restart under strict environmental and access conditions.

In a notice circulated to miners and contractors, Navid Incorporated Contractors said the suspension affecting the mining areas had been lifted, but operations linked to Mining Lease 21 remained on hold pending environmental clearance.

“Please be advised that while the suspension on the above-referenced mining areas has been lifted, Mining Lease 21 does not yet hold a valid Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Certificate. As a result, operations cannot commence until full compliance with environmental regulations is achieved,” the notice read.

Navid said it was awaiting final approval from the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), adding that mining would only resume once an EIA certificate is issued. The contractor also referenced an EMA directive restricting artisanal miners from returning to the site until full compliance is achieved.

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Alongside environmental requirements, Navid said all artisanal miners and operators must register on an updated site list before operations restart. “All artisanal miners and operators are required to inspect the register and complete registration on the attached list,” the notice stated.

The contractor said the updated register would be submitted to the Ministry of Mines, and warned that any incorrect or missing details must be corrected at the Site Access Office before work resumes.

Despite the restrictions, Navid indicated preparations were under way for a phased reopening, starting with ore removal. “Mining operations will resume very soon. Stage 1 will involve the removal of ore dumps by artisanal miners as the first phase,” the notice said.

Following the lifting of the suspension, the Ministry of Mines is also expected to issue ore removal permits for Phoenix Prince Mine, allowing artisanal miners to retrieve previously extracted ore under controlled phases. “Artisanal miners will be invited in phases to collect their ore dumps for processing at designated sites once the ore removal permits are issued,” the notice said.

Navid stressed that access controls would be enforced, saying only authorised personnel would be permitted at Phoenix Prince Mine, which it said is separate from Botha 1 to 4.

The notice also said fencing and demarcation work had been completed, and warned that unregistered structures could be removed if not regularised within 14 days. “Unregistered infrastructure may be removed after 14 days, as it will be assumed to fall under operations by Botha due to unapproved sitting of works,” it said.

Navid said the measures were intended to ensure “safe, legal, and orderly operations” and to improve livelihoods for artisanal miners once environmental compliance is in place.

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