The Department of Primary Industries and Mines has given Akara Resources Plc permission to resume gold mining in Phichit, Phitsanulok and Phetchabun provinces, but concerned locals are preparing to oppose the operations.
The department halted mining for 30 days from Jan 13 and demanded the company take action over environmental and health impact concerns which centred on heavy metal contamination.
The halt order was extended by 45 days from Feb 13 as the company had failed to respond to the department's order.
Director general Surapong Chiengtong said on Thursday the company had already filed documentation containing information the department was seeking. It covered a list of local people receiving medical treatment along with documents that confirmed the start of their treatment. It also included a contract to hire academics to investigate the cause of illnesses among people living near the gold mine.
On that basis, Mr Suraphong said, the department would allow the company to resume mining when it received a new order from the department which should reach it on Friday.
Resumption of mining would be permitted on condition the company provided ill locals with continuous treatment, organised forums to discuss the causes of environmental and health impacts, let village representatives check its operations and conducted public relations exercises, he said.
A villager opposed to the mining, Suekanya Theerachartdamrong, said she would fight resumption of operations as the company had not taken ill villagers in for treatment nor had investigations into the causes of the impact of mining been concluded.
Akara Resources chief executive officer Pakorn Sukhum said his company was ready to meet the department's conditions and would take good care of the people living near its gold mines.