Concern as seven mining licences granted across three Northern Ireland counties – The Irish News

Seven mining licences have been awarded across Northern Ireland despite more than 2,000 objections from members of the public.

The licences will allow four companies to prospect for minerals, excluding gold and silver, in at least three counties with the possibility that the prospecting could lead to full time mining operations in the future.

The decision follows a 12-week consultation process which ended in April this year.

During the process, the Department for the Economy received more than 2,100 public responses—99.5% of which were against the awarding of the licences.

Under the terms, Conroy Gold will be allowed to explore south Armagh in an area near Keady and Newtownhamilton.

Meanwhile, Dalradian Gold will be able to explore portions of County Tyrone, including areas near Strabane and Plumbridge in the Sperrin Moutains.

Karelian Diamond Resources will now be allowed to prospect in Colebrook, Co Fermanagh, while Flintridge Resources will focus on land near Killeter in Co Tyrone.

Local campaigners argue these exploration activities will threaten the environment, water supplies and tourism-dependent communities.

A statement released by the Save Our Sperrins environmental group read: “We were shocked and deeply disappointed to learn that the Department for the Economy and Crown Estate Commissioners have approved all 7 mineral prospecting licences.

“This comes despite 99.5% of public responses opposing them, every affected local council objecting, and a recent successful judicial review that called out failures in this very process.

“Once again, the democratic voice of local communities has been sidelined in favour of private mining interests,” Save Our Sperrins said.

And the campaign group claimed: “This is not only anti-democratic – it is environmentally reckless, legally questionable, and socially divisive.”

Martin Tracey, of the Campaign Against Mining, was critical of Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald.

“When Minister Archibald was previously in a different role, she actually called for a moratorium on mining licenses—that all licenses should be suspended until there was a rigorous review of the system that granted the licenses,” he said.

A Department for the Economy spokesperson told The Irish News: “It is important to point out that the department has no role in the licensing of gold and silver exploration, which remains within the remit of the Crown Estate.

“The Department is carrying out a comprehensive review of mineral licensing. In the meantime the existing law must be complied with. In accordance with the existing legislation, on 8 May 20205 the Department published its Consultation Summary Report to these applications. This report, which can be found on our website, outlines in detail the Department’s response to each of the issues raised throughout the consultation.”