Galantas Gold Corporation (LON:GAL) has received notification that the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) will not provide anti-terrorism cover in regard to blasting operations required for development of the Omagh gold mine.
Historically, terrorism from the IRA and loyalist paramilitaries has meant that the use of explosives and mine blasting materials has been a sensitive issue in Northern Ireland, although Galantas points out that the PSNI does provide cover for a number of quarrying operations and one other mine.
But Galantas has been told that, due to PSNI resource constraints and competing priorities, the PSNI is currently only prepared to provide anti-terrorism cover for a maximum of a two hour period, two days per week. It will also require a cost recovery agreement.
Two two-hour periods per week is insufficient to sustain the development or operation of the Omagh gold mine, and Galantas instead argued for a two hour period five days per week.
Chief executive Roland Phelps conceded that the news was a “blow” to the company and spoke of his regret that the decision seemed to be a precedent that allowed “a potential terrorist threat to interfere with any citizen's lawful rights or business."