Boliden closing in on deal for Lundin’s European mines
A deal would cement Boliden’s position as one of Europe’s biggest producers of zinc.
The Opposition New Democratic Party is alleging the Liberal government of BC overpaid Boss Energy to abandon plans for a uranium mine near the Interior city of Kelowna.
Back in October Boss Energy received a $30 million settlement from the province to compensate the company for the undeveloped Blizzard uranium deposit. Boss Energy had a claim on the deposit but the government in 2008 announced it would ban uranium mining and exploration and would not be issuing any more permits; Boss Energy sued.
The $30 million payout was to represent the economic value of the deposit, but CBC reports the NDP has obtained an internal government evaluation suggesting a much lower payout of $8 million.
New Democrats are saying the government overpaid to cover up wrongdoing:
“British Columbians deserve to hear the Liberal government explain why they handed over an extra $21 million on the courthouse steps to avoid testifying in court,” NDP energy and mines critic John Horgan said in a statement.
Premier Christy Clark, however, defended the settlement amount, saying the deal was decided by the criminal justice branch of the government not by politicians, reported the CBC.
Comments
Stevejp
what a load of rubbish the NDP is saying. I know that project well and the payout is much lower than the value of the ore reserve.