The Mining Minister Sir Ano Pala has reassured that the environmental matters pertaining to the re-opening of the Tolukuma Gold Mine in Goilala district in the Central province, will be closely looked at to ensure no damages to the environment will be caused. The minister, when responding the concerns of potential environmental damages raised by the Member for Kairuku Peter Iso Aimo during parliament session, said monitoring what’s going to happen is now the only thing to do. He explained that the mining license along with the environmental permit was issued already to the developer of the mining project Lole Mining Ltd, which is a locally owned mining company, to operate the mine. Minister Pala further explained that the company itself was liquidated some years back, but just last year it came out of it and has since then progressed towards re-opening the Tolukuma Mine, and during its liquidation period, the mining license that was given to the company continued to remained active. Therefore, the minister said there was no re- issuing of the mining license. “I want to assure you that I’m very concerned about it too. I’m concerned because it is going to happen now that the mine is likely to re- open.” “So, we will look at everywhere possible to minimize the impact of waste dumping in the river,” said the minister. Minister Pala said in general that despite mining companies being issued mining licenses and environmental permits that bounds them to be responsible with their activities, there still must be close monitoring of the waste and how it is being disposed of. “I want to assure you that we will continue to look at better ways, we must look at the better way.” The Member for Kairuku’s concern was a valid one being that when the mine was still operating before its closure some year’s back, the communities living along the Angabanga River complained about sediment build up, flooding and suspected poisoning of the environment due to the mining project upriver in the district of Goilala. The member said this continues even today. Member Iso Aimo urged the minister to closely look at this matter of environmental impact now that the mine is to re-open because the lives of a lot of people living along the river will continue to be impacted by it. He also urged the minister to look at adopting more safer ways to dispose wastes from the mine.