Hello Frank
***OFF THE WIRE***
LIBREVILLE, July 15 (Reuters) - Canadian mining company
SouthernEra Resources Ltd. has been awarded a permit to step up its
exploration for precious minerals in the central African country of Gabon,
the government said on Monday. The permit signed on Monday gives SouthernEra
the right to look for diamonds, gold, platinum, copper and nickel and the
authorities hope it will boost mining of platinum group metals in Gabon to
levels already seen for manganese in the south. SouthernEra, an independent
producer of platinum group metals and diamonds, has been carrying out
research in Gabon since 1999 and is expected to start mining minerals in
2003, an official source said. "SouthernEra has the experience and the
resources to work these permits in a substantial manner," said SouthernEra's
vice-president Mike Eksteen at the signing ceremony. By the end of 2002,
SouthernEra will have invested 675 million CFA francs in Gabon. It plans to
build a small factory near Lambararene, some 250 km (160 miles) from the
capital Libreville, which will use modern extraction methods. ((Abidjan
newsroom, ++ 225 20 21 90 90, fax 225 20 21 30 77
Regards
Vaughn |
