Gordon Deegan
Plans to create 190 jobs with the planned re-opening of Galmoy zinc and lead mine in Co Kilkenny and Co Laois have suffered a setback.
This follows state agency, Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) lodging an appeal with An Bord Pleanála against the Kilkenny County Council green light for Shanoon Resources to recommence mining activities across eight townlands near Galmoy in Co Kilkenny.
IFI has told An Bord Pleanála of its concerns that the environmental impact of the re-opening of mining on receiving surface water bodies have not adequately addressed by the applicant.
IFI state that these concerns were not put to the applicant in the Council’s request for further information while the application was before the Council.
The IFI claims that “there have been multiple failures by the planning authority in their consideration of this application and that permission should be overturned pending satisfactory resolution of the concerns documented”.
The IFI states that the applicant has not demonstrated that the proposed treatment systems for the development “are consistent with restoration of these surface water bodies to ‘Good Ecological Status’.
Planning applications
Last year, Shanoon Resources Ltd lodged twin planning applications with Laois and Kilkenny County Councils to re-start mining activities.
Laois County Council is due to issue a decision on the application before it next month.
Planning documents lodged with the councils state that mining activities were ended ‘prematurely’ at Galmoy in 2014.
Mining at Galmoy commenced in 1997 and planning consultants for Shanoon Resources Ltd, Tom Phillips & Associates have stated that “significant ore reserves remain underground”.
The planning application states that the re-opening will involve the creation of 100 construction jobs for a one-year period and ninety jobs when operational.
The mine will have a lifetime of seven to ten years once it re-commences operations.
Global shortage
The submission by Tom Phillips & Associates stated that “an accessible mineral resource with existing associated infrastructure such as that at the Galmoy mine is rare. There is a recognised global shortage of minerals such as zinc”.
The consultants state the global storage of zinc is causing a knock on effect on the cost of much needed building materials.
Accounts previously filed by former operator, Galmoy Mines Ltd show that it generated revenues of €145 million in 2006 and €122 million in 2007.
The application site is 442 hectares and located 3.5km from the village of Galmoy in Co Kilkenny.
The planning documents state that it is anticipated that 310,000 tonnes of ore will be mined per annum while 210,000 tonnes of sorted ore per annum will be exported from the site.
In a submission to Council, Director at Tom Phillips & Associates, Gavin Lawlor has stated that the proposal would not injure the amenities of the area and would not be prejudicial to public health.
