Aregbesola signs MoU on gold mining with Australian firm … As firm discovers gold in Ilesa
By Oluwole Ige in Osogbo
Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State at the weekend, at the Government House, Oke Fia, Osogbo signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with an Australian mining firm, Andalusian Mining Industry, with a view to commence gold mining operations in Ilesa.
This development came as the leader of the mining firm, Collin Miller disclosed to the governor that his company would present the first raw gold to the people of the state, before the end this year.
Aregbesola said the Australian mining firm had conducted a geological survey, which confirmed that there was a huge deposit of gold in Ilesa.
The governor, who noted that the discovery had presented the state with the opportunity to partner Andalusian in the breakdown, exploration and mining of gold in the state, said the people should look forward to having of the presence of the mining firm in the state.
Describing gold mining in state as a major breakthrough to the government and a business opportunity, Aregbesola expressed optimism that his administration was looking forward to speedy operation and intervention in the prospecting for gold before the end of the year.
“With your partnership in gold mining, which will in turn create wealth for the immediate environment and the entire people of the state, you have a full partner with us. I am joyous for the opportunity that our state will join the comity of state that now mine mineral deposits,” he remarked.
Aregbesola, however, tasked the company to be conscious of not hurting the people, their means of livelihood and the environment in the process of prospecting the gold deposit at Itagunmodi in Ilesa.
In his address after the signing of the MoU, Miller said that the summit in Australia on gold mining encouraged his firm to come to Osun State.
Miller said his company’s visit to the site of the prospective gold mine has also encouraged them to partner with the government for mining operation for upward of four years.
According to him, “we are looking forward to an enduring partnership with your state. Our presence at the gold mine will create employment opportunity for the people of the state.”
