- A vast mining project, called the Montagne d'Or, was to see the light of day in French Guiana.
- The project has aroused strong local opposition. Initially favorable, Emmanuel Macron reiterated Thursday his opposition to the project.
- The battle is on a legal level.
A "stopped" project. Emmanuel Macron reiterated on Thursday his desire to see the Montagne d'or industrial mine project relegated to oblivion. "For the past two years, I have assumed that I have made choices which, I know, sometimes have thwarted, have been against projects that have been going on for a long time, but because they did not comply with this [ecological] agenda ”, he launched at the launch of the French biodiversity office. “The shutdown of the airport project at Notre-Dame-des-Landes, the Montagne d'or mine in Guyana or the Europacity project is the end of three emblematic projects. "
Notre-Dame-des-Landes, Montagne d'Or or Europacity: for the past 2 years, we have assumed that we abandoned projects that did not comply with our ecological agenda. pic.twitter.com/sOwJ4Nthmi
- Élysée (@Elysee) February 14, 2020Emmanuel Macron, initially favorable to the project, renewed a commitment he had already made.
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A vast mining project located partly in the equatorial forest, south of Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, in French Guiana, the project has sparked outcry since its presentation. Supported by a Russian-Canadian consortium, the companies Nordgold and Colombus Gold, it should create 750 direct jobs, in a territory where the unemployment rate stood at 19% in 2018, according to INSEE.
In this dossier, the stakes are twofold: the mining project and the renewal of the concession, linked to a mining title. If the exploitation project is for the moment in neutral, the associations opposed to the project are following the renewal of the concession with attention.
"The mining title expired on December 31, 2018," recalls Manouchka Ponce, coordinator of Guyana nature environment. The Montagne d'or mining company has applied for a renewal. The state seems to be playing the watch on this point. The authorities have still not responded to this request.
On October 16, the Guyana Mines Commission [where Guyane Nature Environnement sits] removed from its agenda consideration of this renewal. The prefecture of the department indicates at 20 minutes that it does not have "new information on the examination of the request for extension of the concession", "the position of the Government remaining invariant with regard to the Montagne d'Or project". "By refusing the renewal of the title, we put an end to Montagne d'or", analyzes Manouchka Ponce.
Why this silence from the authorities? "Silence for two years means refusal," said Marine Calmet, lawyer and spokesperson for the Or question collective, opposed to the Montagne d'or project. The situation could change this year: according to local media Guyaweb, the mining company has filed an appeal before the administrative court. If the request is granted, it will be valid for 25 years. With this legal action, the collective fears "to see an extension granted retroactively". A decision that would breathe new life into the project. Solicited by 20 Minutes about this, the mining company did not respond to our requests.
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