GOLD: Lundin gets approval of Fruta del Norte EIS

ECUADOR – Vancouver-based Lundin Gold has received approval of the environmental impact study for the Fruta del Norte gold project from the government of Ecuador. The approval process began when a draft EIS was submitted in April 2016, and then a public consultations were held. The final EIS was delivered to the ministry of environment in August. Lundin acquired the Fruta del Norte project late in 2014 and immediately began to press toward development. G Mining, a Montreal-based project management company, has been hired to work with Lundin to manage all aspects of the project. Other major contracts have been awarded. Ausenco Services Canada will tackle the optimization and all engineering for the process plant and surface facilities. Klohn Crippen Berger  will handle the surface geotechnical design and associated field investigations. The list of awards includes underground mine design to NCL Ingenieria & Construccion, mine geotechnical services to SRK Consulting, and mine portal and soft tunneling design services to Alan Auld Group. Lundin Gold has yet to award the mine development contract. A number of companies have been prequalified to bid, and a decision will be made in January 2017. Full information about Fruta del Norte is posted at www.LundinGold.com.