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This press release was originally distributed via the eWire press wire service (2002–2016). It is preserved here as a historical record.
Ghanaian Government Offers Support for Haber's Environmentally Friendly HGP Gold Extraction Process
ARCHIVED 2002–2016: Originally distributed via the eWire press wire service. Preserved as historical record.
Ghanaian Government Offers Support for Haber's Environmentally Friendly HGP Gold Extraction Process
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ghanaian Government Offers Support for Haber's Environmentally Friendly HGP Gold Extraction Process
Haber Technology Could Alleviate Environmental Hazards From Mining
BAYONNE, NEW JERSEY, Aug. 14 -/E-Wire/-- Haber, Inc. (OTC: HABE), a New Jersey-based company with proprietary technology for the environmentally friendly processing of gold-bearing ores, announced today that a Haber team, led by President and COO Albert B. Conti, recently returned from Ghana, West Africa, after three weeks of successful meetings with senior government and mining officials.
The Haber team conducted real-time demonstrations of its HGP gold extraction process in comparison with conventional, toxic cyanide techniques. The HGP process poses none of the hazards of cyanide techniques or the mercury processing used by small-scale miners in the country. Haber received strong interest from government officials in the use of the technology throughout the country, particularly for the more than 1 million small-scale miners scouring Ghana's vast gold reserves, Conti said. Ghana is the second largest gold-producing country on the continent of Africa.
"This was a very successful meeting with the top leaders of the Ghanaian government and industry officials. It was an excellent beginning of our worldwide efforts to introduce Haber and HGP to the gold mining community," said Conti. "Our technology has the capability to revolutionize gold extraction techniques for large and medium companies, and when applied to small-scale gold mining operations in Africa, it can protect human life, the environment, and improve the income level and standard of living for the vast number of itinerant miners struggling on the continent."
During the trip, Haber officials met with government officials including the minister of Ghana's Environmental Protection Agency, Asagafour (King of the Eastern region); the minister of mines; the Minerals Commission; the Chamber of Mines; the minister of trade and industry; and the minister of Social Security. Conti also presented and demonstrated the HGP process to Ghanaian EPA representatives, concession owners, gold traders, private investors, small-scale miners and large-scale mining companies including Ashanti Goldfields, Goldfields Inc., GMC and Bogoso Gold Ltd.
Small-scale mining in Ghana consists of groups of 8 to 15 people using the most rudimentary concentration methods followed by the extraction of gold using highly toxic mercury, the use of which has been outlawed worldwide. Faced with extreme hardship, the miners toil to earn a subsistence living despite the dangers. The crude mining techniques used are hazardous to them and their environment and expose the entire population of the country to mercury-related illnesses. This problem is not restricted to Ghana but is worldwide in scope. Small-scale gold mining in Ghana alone is reported to produce more than 400,000 ounces annually.
The Ghanaian government has attempted to address this issue but, until the advent of the Haber HGP process, there have been no technologically feasible alternatives. During the visit, the Haber team presented a preliminary framework for addressing the issues. The plan under consideration by Haber is to deploy one or more mobile HGP processing plants in areas where high concentrations of small-scale miners are located and provide them fee-based services for environmentally safe gold extraction. Initial examinations of the country's small-scale mining operation indicate that Haber couldincrease the amount of gold extracted and increase the pay miners receive for their efforts and allow a margin for Haber's services. The project is undergoing ore value estimates, in depth engineering, process and logistical evaluation to determine ultimate feasibility.
The office of the minister of mines, the Minerals Commission and the Ghanaian EPA have pledged their full support to Haber for the plan and have offered to assist with the introduction and application of the HGP process to small-scale mining operations including education and organization of the small mining community. They have also volunteered to lobby for legislative changes that would ultimately ban the current, highly toxic cyanide extraction processes over some reasonable period of time, Conti said.
The minister of mines has recommended that Haber present a paper on its technology at the upcoming World Bank Conference in Ghana on worldwide, small-scale mining in September. Norman Haber, chairman, CEO and founder of the company, and Albert Conti are planning to participate and conduct follow-up discussions with Ghanaian and mining company principals.
At Western University in Tarkwa, Ghana, Conti also demonstrated the HGP process to mining company officials, EPA staff, mining engineers and mining school academic staff.
Conti said the demonstration showed that in addition to HGP's safety as compared to cyanide, HGP also does not put other unwanted substances in the ore in solution, does not require external sources of oxygen and results in a very simple extraction process. These advantages allow users of the HGP process a significant cost savings over the cyanide process. Conti concluded his presentation by drinking the HGP lixiviant to clearly demonstrate its non-toxic properties, as compared to cyanide.
Haber also announced it will attempt to license cyanide manufacturers to allow them to produce the chemicals used in the HGP process. As gold mining gradually shifts to non-toxic technologies, chemical companies could thus maintain their presence, market share, and a significant portion of their in-country infrastructure and distribution capabilities. Haber has also been asked to consider setting up a chemical plant in Ghana to provide chemical supplies to small-scale miners throughout Africa.
"I believe the groundwork has been laid for Haber to participate in Ghana in a significant way," said Conti. "We have recently put in place a number of strategic arrangements including establishing an in-country counsel, a marketing organization and local agents. Large- and medium-size concession owners are now sending samples to us for evaluation, including Ashanti Goldfields. We are also forming a Ghanaian corporation which will serve as our in-country business entity."
Haber, Inc. is a high technology process development company with proprietary technologies in extractive metallurgy and electrochemical separations. These technologies include the company's Haber Gold Process (HGP), a chemical system discovered by Norman Haber, the chairman of the company, for the hydrometallurgical extraction of gold from its ores. The Haber Gold Process is both non-toxic and more efficient than conventional solvents such as cyanide. This technology accelerates the gold extraction rate and may increase gold recovery from its ores by a substantial factor. The company's Electromolecular Propulsion (EMP) technology is an electrochemical process that enables the electrically controlled movement or positioning of a variety of different molecules. It is distinguished from the techniques of electrophoresis and chromatography by its wide variety of potential applications and the greater speed and control of the results. For more information, call Peter R. D'Angelo (781) 643-2727, or visit the company's Web site, http://www.haberscience.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
Any statements contained herein that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance and underlying assumptions. These statements are subject to uncertainties and risks including, but not limited to, economic conditions, the impact of competition and pricing, government regulation, and other risks. All forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of the Company are qualified. The Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.
Peter R. D''Angelo, 781/643-2727
http://http://www.haberscience.com
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