The Akwa Ibom State Government has sealed off a Chinese mining firm, Ruitai Mining Company, for failing to produce an operation licence.
State’s Commissioner for Environment and Mineral Resources, Chief Uno Eno, announced the closure at a news briefing in Uyo on Tuesday.
Eno said the firm could not provide authorisation documents for mining titanium ore in the Ibeno community of the state.
According to him, the company had been mining titanium ore quietly in the area before the government intercepted and ordered it to produce relevant documents.
The commissioner added that during an inspection, the firm failed to produce mining license and Environmental Impact Assessment report.
The Chairman of Ibeno Local Government Area, Chief Williams Mkpa, conducted the joint ministerial inspection team around the mining site, on arrival at Ibeno community.
“The team discovered black clay-like minerals contained in sacks of 50kg, which the miners identified as titanium ore.
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“On critical examination of the site amidst tight security, the Managing Director of the company, Zeng Zhonghuan was not available.
“Staff members met on site could not provide any information or documents,” Uno said.
Uno said the ministry discovered the company was purely on exploration while its Board of Directors are all Chinese nationals.
“They are not eligible to acquire the small-scale mining licence as claimed.
“Ruitai mining company should terminate its mining operations forthwith until due clearance legitimising its operation is completed,” the commissioner said.
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