African Gold Group, Inc. (TSX-V: AGG) (“
AGG” or
the “
Company”) is pleased to provide an update on
its Corporate Social Responsibility (“
CSR”)
projects carried out in Q4-2020 as part of its overall
Environmental and Social Management Plan (“
ESMP”).
As a mining company operating in Africa, AGG recognizes its
responsibility to adhere to the highest responsible mining
standards and is committed to creating sustainable long-term value
for all of its stakeholders.
Highlights:
-
Rehabilitation of a critical bridge between Samaya and
Kobada village to ensure safe passage of personnel, medical
supplies, and equipment to the region.
-
Rehabilitation of roads and a bridge in Kobada village to
allow safe passage of people and vehicles across a previously
hazardous route.
-
Construction of a four main water channels in the Kobada
village area to prevent standing pools of water, a breeding ground
for malaria and a high risk for an increase for malaria
infection.
- Start of
repairs on the 8 km Samaya – Kobada road, a critical transport link
connecting the local communities.
Danny Callow, Chief Executive Officer of
AGG commented:
“We are very proud of the team at Kobada and the
scores of volunteers that have assisted us in delivering a number
of key projects in the Kobada region. Our alliance and ongoing
positive enhancements in and around our mine site reinforce our
commitment to the local communities and Mali as a whole. These
projects have tackled critical infrastructure and health issues,
and even though we are not in construction, have delivered projects
costing more than US$50,000 to aid and assist the local
communities. As we have published in Q4-2020, this forms a very
small part of a much more focused, long term Environmental and
Social Management Plan which we are in the process of
developing.”
Samaya – Kobada Bridge
Rehabilitation
Due to the excessive rains last season, Lanseni
Diawara, Chief of Samaya village requested the assistance of the
Company with the rehabilitation of a bridge between Samaya and
Kobada villages (see press release of the Company as of November
10, 2020).
With no available alternatives in the region,
the Samaya bridge is a critical transportation link that provides
access for goods, services and medical facilities for a number of
local communities in the region. Due to the excessive rains, the
bridge was at risk of imminent collapse that could have caused
severe damage to the local economy and completely isolate a number
of local communities.
With assistance from local villagers, Senet Ltd.
and Etasi & Co Drilling, the Company is pleased to announce
that it successfully completed the rehabilitation of the bridge on
December 18th, 2020.
“I am pleased and grateful for the work carried
out by the AGG team. The new bridge is stronger than ever and would
last for many years,” commented Chief Diawara at the opening
ceremony.
Road Repairs – Kobada
Village
Due to the historical artisanal mining in the
area, the natural drainage from streams criss-crossing the area
resulted in large pools of water building up, which made it
dangerous to traverse and a health hazard. Through discussions with
the local Chief, the Kobada team along with several village
volunteers moved more than 130 tonnes of rock and laterite to build
and protect the stream crossing. Additional steelwork supplied by
Kobada and welders, ensured that the bridge can handle heavy
equipment crossing.
The Chief of Kobada village took the opportunity
to thank AGG for the work carried out in making the passage through
the village far easier. He was very pleased with the work on the
drainage of stagnant water and rainwater drainage. He also
expressed his thanks for the planned road repairs between Kobada
and Samaya and looked forward to the planned road repairs on the
road to Niaouleni.
Main Road Samaya to Kobada
The dirt road from Samaya to Kobada village is
about 8 kilometres long. During the rainy season, many parts of the
road were almost impassable due to severe erosion from the most
resent and previous rainy seasons and a lack of maintenance over
many years. The Company has undertaken the task of repairing and
restoring the critical transport link connecting the local
communities. Larger rocks and other binding material were
transported to the areas requiring attention and then compacted
with laterite. Further work from the village of Kobada to Niaouleni
will continue in 2021.
The Chief of Niaouleni village, who is also the
Chef du Terre, Chief Namory Diawara said at the opening that the
bridge was very strong, and that people must respect the rules
regarding weight restrictions. He thanked AGG for all their hard
work in assuring the road link between Kobada and Samaya was
maintained. He expressed his gratitude that the next focus on road
repairs would be between Kobada and Niaouleni.
Channel Clearing for malaria
eradication
Due to the historical artisanal workings around
Kobada village, the natural watercourse has been blocked by fine
silt from mining activities. This has resulted in standing pools of
water which can become breeding grounds for mosquitos which carry
and transmit malaria – causing health and wellbeing problems for
local communities. After meeting with the village Chief, it was
agreed that temporary channels would be constructed to bypass water
away from the village as an interim preventative measure.
Additionally, the Company encouraged the Chief to communicate the
detrimental effects of standing water caused by silt run off from
artisanal mining activities, and that the Chief try to discourage
the processing of artisanal mined material in the village.
Responding to this, the Chief announced over the radio that there
will be no more pumping in the area as that is causing the biggest
problem.
Kobada Gold Project Corporate Social
Responsibility Strategy
The Kobada Gold Project is an advanced stage
gold development project located in Mali, Africa’s 4th largest gold
producing nation. The property is located 126 km south-west of
Bamako, the capital city of Mali, in the Birimian Greenstone Belt,
with excellent transportation links to the capital and excellent
logistics routes via other West African ports. The Company’s
corporate social responsibility goals and objectives are built
around three pillars – environment, social responsibility and
health and safety. In October 2020, the Company announced its
corporate social responsibility program (“CSR”) as
it prepares for the start of construction of its flagship Kobada
Mine. AGG and its CSR strategy is guided by the United Nations
Sustainable Development Goals (“UN SDGs”) at all
stages of its decision making and will work towards aligning our
operations towards a number of the UN SDGs as Kobada moves towards
production.
About African Gold Group
African Gold Group is a TSX Venture Exchange
(TSX-V: AGG) listed exploration and development company with a
focus on building Africa’s next mid-tier gold producer. The Company
has a highly experienced board and management team with a proven
track record in the African mining sector operating mines from
development through to production. AGG’s principal asset is the
Kobada Project in southern Mali, which is in an advanced stage of
development having completed the 2020 definitive feasibility study
for the Kobada Gold Project and is targeting gold production of
100,000 oz per annum by Q2 2022. As well as the initial Kobada Gold
Project, other exploration locations have been identified on the
Kobada, Farada and Kobada Est concessions, offering potential for
an increase in resource. For more information regarding African
Gold Group visit our website at www.africangoldgroup.com.
For more information:
Danny Callow President and Chief Executive
Officer+(27) 76 411 3803 Danny.Callow@africangoldgroup.com
Scott EldridgeNon-Executive Chairman of the
Board(604) 722-5381Scott.Eldridge@africangoldgroup.com
Daniyal Baizak VP Corporate Development(647)
835-9617Daniyal.Baizak@africangoldgroup.com
Camarco (Financial PR)Gordon PooleNick
HennisMonique Perks+44 (0) 20 3757
4997AfricanGoldGroup@camarco.co.uk
Cautionary statements
This press release contains “forward-looking
information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities
legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not
limited to, statements regarding, the Company’s ESMP and CSR
initiatives. Generally, forward-looking information can be
identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as
“plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “budget”,
“scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates” or
“does not anticipate”, or “believes”, or variations of such words
and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results
“may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will be taken”, “occur” or “be
achieved”. Forward-looking information is subject to known and
unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the
actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of
AGG to be materially different from those expressed or implied by
such forward-looking information, including but not limited to:
receipt of necessary approvals; general business, economic,
competitive, political and social uncertainties; future prices of
mineral prices; accidents, labour disputes and shortages and other
risks of the mining industry. Although the Company has attempted to
identify important factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those contained in forward-looking
information, there may be other factors that cause results not to
be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance
that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results
and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in
such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue
reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not
undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in
accordance with applicable securities laws.
NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS
REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE
POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR
THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.
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