Earl Group wishes to bring to the attention of the Government, the media, and the general public, a disturbing and escalating security and safety situation within our lawful mining concession.
For several weeks, an entity called Nanlamtaaba Enterprise has been engaged in continuous illegal mining operations within our concession, in flagrant violation of a Notice to Cease Mining Operations and Vacate the Gbane Mining Area issued by the Minerals Commission with the approval of the Ministry for Lands and Natural Resources.
The deliberate decision of the Enterprise to disregard the directives of the Minerals Commission and continue to carry out mining operations without a valid Mining License, Mining Operating Permit, Environmental Permit, Explosives Permit and other regulatory requirements is a clear affront to state regulatory authority.
This illegality has now escalated into a total takeover of our underground operational areas which are significantly apart from a disputed area. Dozens of persons identifying themselves as workers of Nanlamtaaba Enterprise continue to invade our underground working areas with harmful weapons such as guns, cutlasses, scissors and metal cables to forcibly occupy active production faces.
In a recent incident, two private guards of Earl Group who were performing underground guard duties on Wednesday September 30, 2026 were seized by persons linked to Nanlamtaaba Enterprise.
As the sole holder of the Mining Lease for the Gbane mining area, Earl Group remains guided by law. We have exercised maximum restraint and strictly ordered our security guards not to take any retaliatory action that may result in injuries underground. This order of restraint is borne out of our deep respect for and confidence in the Minerals Commission and the Honourable Minister for Lands and Natural Resources to resolve this matter.
We recognize and appreciate the steps taken so far by the Minerals Commission and Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to resolve this issue. However, further delay deepens underground risks and the collapse of a major mining investment.
We call on Government, Regulatory Agencies and Stakeholders to urgently enforce the Cease and Vacate Order and restore full operational control to Earl Group. We appeal to Security Agencies to provide immediate and sustained security in the concession to prevent re-invasion and to guarantee the safety of our workers.
Earl Group remains committed to responsible, safe, and lawful mining in full partnership with regulatory authorities.
END
Issued by: Public & External Relations Unit.
