Skip to content

Clean water and air concerns for protesters as gold mine inquiry opens

BBC Two protesters are wearing red and are holding a coffin that says RIP clean water.BBC
Two protesters outside the Strule Arts Centre in Omagh as the public inquiry into the planned Dalradian gold mine got under way

A campaign group opposed to a controversial gold mine planned for County Tyrone has held a protest as a public inquiry into the plans gets under way.

The Planning Appeals Commission (PAC) inquiry into the proposed mine began at the Strule Arts Centre in Omagh, County Tyrone.

Members of the Save Our Sperrins group wore black and red and held small wooden black coffins daubed with "RIP Clean air" and "RIP Clean water".

The group protesting at the inquiry, Save Our Sperrins, was set up in 2015 to oppose plans by the firm Dalradian for an underground mine near Greencastle.

The firm has been working on the Curraghinalt site in the Sperrin Mountains for 15 years.

During Monday's inquiry, people of the community expressed concern about the use of the deadly chemical cyanide and whether it would be reintroduced to plans.

In its initial application from 2017, Dalradian had proposed using cyanide in the mining process.

Dalradian amended its planning application in 2019 to remove its use for the extraction process.

One resident, opposed to the company's plans, asked the inquiry for an explanation of how cyanide had been removed.

A representative for Dalradian said "there was absolutely no intention of using cyanide".

Discussions also took place during the inquiry surrounding the parameters of the mine including; what materials would be extracted, how much gold would be extracted and how long the project would take.

A representative from Dalradian said their worst case scenario was to mine up to 1,500 tonnes per day.

The inquiry also heard that there had been "unauthorised development" on the existing Dalradian site, with "infilling, fencing and cameras".

Some of the objectors described "illegal development", and a legal representative for the department for infrastructure said while it "was certainly a breach of planning control", that "does not make it illegal".

The inquiry heard that the mine would run 365 days a year with some maintenance days factored in.

Dalradian has said the mine would operate for 20 to 25 years but the inquiry heard that the project could actually run for up to 28 years including two years for construction, as well as time post-mining.

'1000 jobs'

Dalradian has said the mine will create and support up to 1,000 jobs and add $5bn (£4.1bn) to the Northern Ireland economy.

However Save Our Sperrins is concerned about the impact on health and the environment, and has said it will continue to challenge the plans regardless of whether they get the green light from the inquiry.

The mine is proposed for an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, close to the Owenkillew and Owenreagh rivers, which contain several protected species.

Marella is smiling into the camera. She's standing on a bridge with a building behind her. She has short brown hair and is wearing a red top to show that she's protesting and a grey hoodie.
Marella Fyffe, from Save our Sperrins, welcomes the opportunity to speak on behalf of some members of the community

Marella Fyffe, from the campaign group, was feeling "nervous" but "very positive" as the inquiry opened.

She said being here "gives us a chance to speak as a community about the damage that will be done to the environment by the mining company".

Ms Fyffe described the process of getting to the inquiry as "chaotic" because experts are not allowed to give their evidence online.

"Why in this day and age wouldn't we present our evidence online?"

The PAC hearings protocol states that, where a "Commissioner considers that a physical hearing is required, all parties should attend in-person".

A protester is dressed up like Death. They are wearing a black hooded cape and is holding a scythe that says goldmining. Their face is obscured. A river is behind them.
A protester dressed as Death outside the Strule Arts Centre

James Orr, from Friends of the Earth, said "the stakes are incredibly high".

"This is a story about the future. Do we want sustainable farm businesses; tourism; do we want to protect our rivers; do we want to protect our air quality; or do we want to sacrifice this to global corporations?" he said.

Mr Orr said the inquiry was not being recorded.

"So much for a public inquiry. It doesn't feel very independent and it doesn't feel very public," he said.

The PAC hearings protocol states that the "recording of a hearing is not undertaken by the Commission and it is not permitted for any other party to record or broadcast the event".

A mine worker in orange high viz clothing, a hard hat with a lamp on it and boots stands in a mine tunnel with dark grey walls and water on the ground
Dalradian believes the mine could yield 100 tonnes of gold

Is there gold in the Sperrin Mountains?

The site is said to contain one of the world's most significant undeveloped gold deposits as well as substantial quantities of silver, copper and other minerals.

Dalradian believes it could yield 100 tonnes of gold, 48 tonnes of silver and 15,000 tonnes of copper in its 20 to 25-year lifetime.

A planning application for the mine was first submitted in 2017 by the then Canadian firm. It is now owned by a US investment fund, Orion Resource Partners, who have put $400m (£330m) into the project to date.

Not everyone living in the area are opposed to the mine, with some welcoming the prospect of jobs and investment.

The Silent Majority Community Group has said the majority of 50,000 objections originally submitted to the proposal came before Dalradian ditched its planned use of cyanide in the mining process.

It believes the company's environmental commitments have increased local confidence in the project.

Green fields with brush, bushes and trees with mountains in the background. The sky is grey with the sun trying to break through
The mine is located in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

The inquiry was first ordered by then infrastructure minister Nicola Mallon in 2020.

Public hearings are due to last until the end of March.

The first two days will cover strategic matters and the principle of development, with representations from Fermanagh and Omagh and Derry City and Strabane district councils.

The planning commissioners will then make recommendations, but Northern Ireland Executive ministers will have the final say on whether planning permission is granted.