Quetta: The Balochistan government on Monday allowed a Chinese firm to explore and develop the East Ore Body in the Saindak lease area — with a no-objection certificate (NoC) having been issued for the purpose, according to news sources.
The firm in charge of the project is called the Metrological Construction Company of China (MCC), and it is locally registered as Saindak Metals Limited (SML). As per the official sources, the provincial government has granted the company a 15- year extension to explore the East Ore Body site after the expiry of its current contract on October 31, 2022.
Reportedly, the MCC firm has been working on the Saindak-Gold-cum-Copper Project since 2002. It applied to the Balochistan Mines and Mineral Department for permission to start the exploration work on the East Ore Body of the Saindak lease area, as its exploration work at the present Saindak site is nearing its end.
An official letter sent to the Petroleum Division of the Ministry of Energy stated that the aforementioned extension offered by the provincial government would bring in an estimated investment of USD 45 million by the MCC-SML. However, the letter also said that the mining lease of the firm (valid till 2025) would be dealt with separately, under the provisions of the Balochistan Minerals Rules, 2002.
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