GUADALCANAL Province police have warned and removed more than 40 illegal miners from Gold Ridge, Central Guadalcanal yesterday.
This followed their unauthorized gold panning activities on the Gold Ridge Mining Limited (GRML) tenement.
Shift supervisor Chris Porawa confirmed to Solomon Star that the miners were arrested and questioned at Henderson station before being issued warnings.
Mr Porawa explained that most of these illegal miners are from West Guadalcanal, particularly from Kakabona (North West Guadalcanal) to Wanderer Bay.
Due to economic hardship, they moved to Gold Ridge in search of gold.
Police began their operation last week to remove the illegal miners as GRML plans to expand its operations with heavy machinery.
This operation is a joint effort involving Guadalcanal police, the Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification (MMERE) Inspection team and GRML Security.
MMERE Permanent Secretary Dr Chris Vehe said the illegal mining activities were occurring within the operational area of Gold Ridge, posing risks to the company’s operations.
GRML Executive Director Walton Naezon said nearly 300 to 400 individuals were involved in illegal mining on the tenement.
He said while excavators were working on the surface, illegal miners were panning for gold underneath.
The goal of this operation is to ensure that the illegal miners return to their homes, allowing GRML to proceed with its expansion plans.
Gold Ridge Mining Limited is owned by Wanguo International Mining Group (70 percent), AXF Resources (20 percent) and Gold Ridge Landowners through the investment company Goldridge Communities Investment Ltd (GCIL) (10 percent).
By EDDIE OSIFELO
Solomon Star, Honiara
