Mesco closes in on gold licence
After an unexpectedly lengthy review, the Ministry of Environment has approved the environmental and social impact study of Indian mining firm Mesco Gold, clearing the last major hurdle for the company to receive a licence to operate the Kingdom’s first royalty-generating mine. “The Ministry of Environment has given its approval for underground mining over a 12 square kilometre area,” Rajeev Moudgil, director of Mesco Gold (Cambodia) Ltd, said August 8. Angkor Gold estimates that an underground mine built at Phum Syarung could produce 10,000 ounces of gold a year over a 10-year mine life. Mesco has not made its own feasibility study of the project available to the public.
