UK-based mining company Carnegie Minerals has denied allegations of illegal mining from mineral sources in Gambia, following the arrest of one of its employees this week.
Mining engineer Charlie Northfield was arrested for commercially mining titanium, iron ore and uranium from Carnergie's mineral sands license in Gambia.
In a statement the company says it 'strongly refutes' these charges and that the minerals cannot be economically extracted from the sands.
The company says it is working closely with the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office to secure Northfield’s release.
Carnegie says it has provided the Gambian Government with full details of all mining in the region, taking into account last week's unilateral ban on mining heavy mineral sands.
By Ozge Ibrahim
