Aya Gold & Silver announced that it has received approval of the Environmental Impact Assessment for the expansion of its Zgounder Silver Mine.
The company also shared that its partnership with the Biotechnology for Sustainable Development in Africa (BDA) Foundation to develop and support local agribusinesses and provide access to international markets in the Askaoun region in Morocco.
Having 17 years of experience in sub-Saharan Africa, BDA’s approach is centered on the supply chain of high value botanicals, allowing local entrepreneurs to capture the profits, instead of the usual intermediaries. Thus, eco-companies, led by local entrepreneurs, are trained, certified, and supported for the start-up of their local SMEs, each creating local jobs in added value products, contributing to the socio-economic inclusion of local populations.
Aya Gold and Silver noted that it is aligning its Biodiversity For the Development of the Atlas region Program with national development strategies through Morocco’s Green Generation Program and with international institutions’ focus on value creation through the development of agribusinesses and alignment with the Nagoya Protocol.
Aya Gold & Silver President & CEO Benoit La Salle commented ont the approval of the EIA: “The granting of the EIA represents a major milestone for Zgounder. This approval, along with our robust expansion feasibility study, announced last week, provides us with enough comfort to order long-lead construction items. We would like to thank the Moroccan authorities and the communities who collaborated with us diligently throughout the process to deliver an expansion, which will benefit all stakeholders.
Further, we are pleased to concurrently announce our inaugural CSR partnership with the BDA Foundation, an international non-profit organization to support Ecopreneurs and local agricultural businesses in Morocco to succeed in Africa’s emerging botanical and agricultural industry, in the cosmetics, nutraceuticals, and biopharmaceuticals segments. This financial investment has significant economic and social benefit and highlights our commitment to deliver positive and measurable impact to the community, including local community-based job creation over the next 5 years.”
