http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDBpEpqqCD0
Capitán Antonio Miranda: We understand that the Las Cristinas and Las Brisas projects were issued as separate projects, the state was studying the possibility to address them as a single project and the reasons that were given for permits delay were due to the fact that they were presented as individual projects. Now that they are (to be) consolidated as a single project, considering the fact that it is a single deposit and the good relations between Rusoro Group, or Agapov Group and the State, this should facilitate the granting of permits as an integral project.
Roy Carson: But, for example Crystallex had its environmental permits delayed, and so happened with Gold Reserve. Why is that?
Miranda: We think that it's because in Las Brisas (del Cuyuni) the project was meant only for gold extraction; this is a complex deposit which has both gold and copper, and the copper tailings present a heavy environmental concern which was not addressed directly in the project ... not in the way they were taken into account in the initial project of Placer Dome, which was meant for both gold and copper extraction.
Carson: But in the Crystallex project, the state is now the owner of Las Cristinas, and Crystallex is only a contractor...
Miranda: Yes, it's only an operation contract, the reserve belongs to the State, and the State -- through the MIBAM (Ministry of Basic Industry and Mining) -- granted it to the CVG (Venezuelan Guayana Corporation), which in turn granted the operational contract to Crystallex.
Carson: If Venezuela owns it, why the delay in granting the environmental permits to start developing the project and make money?
Miranda: That's how it should be. It seems ... and this is my personal point of view ... that there's not a close enough relation between the MIBAM, that decides mining policies, and the Environmental Ministry in charge of environmental impact so as to jointly establish the mechanisms and controls to start the project. We don't understand this lack of cooperation between two State entities that are supposed to work together for the development of an economic sector of the country like gold mining.
Carson: As a local resident with links with gold mining, would you like these permits to be granted soon or would you rather wait?
Miranda: I think that with this opportunity, with the group, the Russians, there's going to be a sort of mix (a joint venture) in which the State, besides owning the mine, is going to have a part in operations and development; to me that model, implemented by the State, will work in favor of the required permits being granted sooner and with more ease.
Carson: But Crystallex' shareholders feel deceived ... every month a new delay for those environmental permits ... they don't understand it ... the ministry says it's all OK but still they don't get the permits.
Miranda: As for that, it's an official matter, I've got my own perception, but an Environment Ministry officer would be the one that could answer that question. Now, as a member of the Rusoro Mining Group, I don't know the reasons why the ministry is delaying those permits to Crystallex.
Carson: Rumor has it that it's because of Enrique Tejera París, it seems that he has problems with the government.
Miranda: It's quite likely that there're some political problems, but that's out of my reach of the analysis and knowledge of mining rights.
Carson: What's your opinion?
Miranda: The Crystallex project was compromised because it was considering gold extraction only while the rest of the deposit containing copper was going to produce an environmental problem. To me that's one of the reasons why the environmental permits for Las Cristinas will be a difficult obstacle (to overcome).
transcription and translation by Franco Munini
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