afrol News, 17 January - An Australian sand mining mineral group, Carnegie Minerals, has been issued an immediate order to stop all operations in The Gambia.

The order followed the government's ultimatum giving the firm 24 hours to "come clean" on its activities in the country or else face severe consequences.

The Gambia government believed the Australian firm might be exporting unreported minerals from the country.

As a result, Carnegie officials were ordered to tell the Gambian public about the quantity of its mined minerals and the international price of the exported tonnage. The company was also asked to provide assay laboratory results.

The firm has been mining zircon and rutile in the Gambian coastal village of Sanyang. The products are then shipped to China.

Carnegie's Australian Managing Director, Alan Hopkins, is expected to fly to The Gambia in a bid to engage the country's authorities on the abrupt halt order.
The firm was reported to have complied with all the terms of their mining licence in the West African country.

The Australian company has also hold interests in Niarafarang, which holds close to five million tonnes of high-grade mineral sands and heavy metals.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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