CCCL’s mining activities still within boundaries, GM clarifies

Quarrying is defined as the process whereby rocks, sand, gravel and other minerals are removed from the grounds, so as to produce materials, primarily for construction, among other uses. In Seychelles, two companies are presently engaged in quarrying and supplying to the local market materials including crusher dust, aggregate, blocks and paving bricks, namely the Civil Construction Company Limited (CCCL), and United Concrete Products Seychelles (UCPS). Quarrying is defined as the process whereby rocks, sand, gravel and other minerals are removed from the grounds, so as to produce materials, primarily for construction, among other uses. In Seychelles, two companies are presently engaged in quarrying and supplying to the local market materials including crusher dust, aggregate, blocks and paving bricks, namely the Civil Construction Company Limited (CCCL), and United Concrete Products Seychelles (UCPS). Over recent weeks, it has been observed by members of the public that CCCL, the well-known privatised company which has been serving the construction industry since November 1998, has moved extraction slightly higher up the face of the hill on which it sits, making it much more visible from the main road and surrounding areas. Seychelles NATION contacted CCCL and was informed by the general manager, Dina Gappy, that the company has indeed moved higher up, although it was clarified that the company is still operating within the boundaries of their lease agreement. “In order for CCCL to continue with its quarrying activities to ensure sustainable supply of construction materials which is essential to the development of our country, CCCL had no choice but to move its operations to higher ground due to unavailability of rocks on the quarry floor. Our mining activities are still within our boundaries as per our lease agreement with MIHLT,” she noted. “CCCL’s management ensures that any negative impact being generated by its quarrying activities are being mitigated by good engineering practices such as control blasting,” Ms Gappy noted. In a bid to verify the information and discover more about the lease and environmental aspects of such quarrying and mining activities Seychelles NATION contacted the Ministry of Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment. Unfortunately, the ministry failed to accommodate the request.