ECUADOR - On Dec. 10, 2005, reports Vancouver-based ASCENDANT COPPER, about 70 people destroyed the medical clinic and demonstration farm at its Junin copper project 135 km northwest of Quito.
Medical supplies and equipment, including pharmaceuticals, farm communication equipment and personal property were stolen before the facilities were set ablaze. Ascendant estimates a loss of this property, equipment and supplies at less than US$20,000. The company has requested a criminal investigation with a view to charges being laid against known perpetrators.
The company has come under fire for its proposed development, and accusations of threats and intimidation have been levelled by both the company and opposition groups. Ascendant president & CEO Gary Davis has vowed to rebuild the medical clinic as soon as possible. "This attack was perpetrated by a very small percentage of the regional community-stakeholder population and is not representative of the majority view of the general communities," he said. "The company does not foresee that this disturbance will have any negative impact on planned advancement of the Junin project."
Ascendant will submit its Environmental Impact Assessment for government and community debate within days. The Junin project, 135 km northwest of Quito, is a copper-molybdenum-gold-silver porphyry with an inferred mineral resource of 982 million tonnes grading 0.89% Cu, 0.04% Mo and 1.9 g/t Ag, at a 0.4% copper cut-off grade. The company also is advancing the Chaucha property located in southern Ecuador.
Send mail to info@AscendantCopper.com.
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