Predictive Discovery has secured environmental approval for the Bankan Gold Project in Guinea, estimated to hold 3.05 million ounces of gold. The company agreed to mitigate environmental risks by relinquishing permits near protected areas. However, concerns remain regarding local wildlife and ecological impacts, prompting the need for ongoing environmental oversight as the project progresses towards potential production in 2026.
Predictive Discovery (PDI) has received an environmental compliance certificate from Guinea’s Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development, enabling the advancement of its Bankan Gold Project. This project, estimated to contain 3.05 million ounces of gold, represents a significant find within West Africa over the past decade.
The approval was granted following the submission of a comprehensive 1,767-page environmental and social impact assessment. To address regulatory concerns, PDI has agreed to forfeit exploration permits that overlap with the buffer zone of the Upper Niger National Park (PNHN), redirecting mining efforts to a “peripheral zone” to minimize environmental impacts on protected areas.
Despite the alterations to the project, environmental assessments indicate ongoing risks to local wildlife, particularly the critically endangered Western chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus). The nearby habitats, including the Mafou Forest conservation area located approximately 18 kilometers from the mining site, are crucial for their survival, and exploration activities have already displaced between seven to fifteen chimpanzees since 2020.
PDI’s mining operations pose additional long-term risks to groundwater levels and habitat degradation, highlighting the critical need for continuous environmental oversight in the region. Aboubacar Samoura, a senior official at the Ministry of the Environment, recognized the challenges in permitting a large-scale mining endeavor adjacent to a protected area, emphasizing the efforts to balance economic growth with conservation efforts.
Following the receipt of the environmental approval, PDI submitted a formal application for a mining license on January 31. If granted, production could commence as early as 2026, potentially boosting economic activity but requiring vigilant monitoring of ecological consequences. The project’s advancement illustrates the broader challenge of resource development in Africa while safeguarding vital biodiversity.
The Bankan Gold Project by Predictive Discovery has made significant strides with the recent environmental compliance certificate, allowing for the development of a major gold deposit. Despite regulatory approvals, the potential environmental impacts and risks to critically endangered species like the Western chimpanzee cannot be overlooked. The situation exemplifies the ongoing challenge of fostering economic development while preserving biodiversity in resource-rich regions.
Original Source: environmentenergyleader.com
