Cyanide ban threatens European gold mines

On May 5, 2010, the European Union Parliament approved a resolution which calls on the Commission to initiate a complete ban on the use of cyanide mining technologies in the European Union by the end of 2011. Endomines says “the resolution was based on erroneous information about the usage of cyanide in the mining industry. Cyanide usage in the Nordic countries is controlled by strict environmental regulations and does not threaten nature. The proposed ban, however, would threaten gold exploration and properly working gold mines in Nordic countries and will have large negative economical impacts if implemented.”Endomines points out that the company has no plans to use cyanide in Pampalo gold mine processing. Pampalo gold is ‘free milling’, i.e. the gold exists as native gold particles and can be separated in the concentrating process by use of conventional gravimetric and flotation techniques. The Pampalo gold mine environmental permit is based on cyanide free processing methods.

Endomines will proceed with the construction of the mine and processing plant, and remains on schedule, with a target for test production to commence in the fourth quarter and full-scale commercial production, in Q1/2011.