Mining in Ghana
加納的採礦業 加納的採礦業
Carats and sticks Carats and sticks
金蘿蔔與大棒 金蘿蔔與大棒
A resource-rich government takes on foreign mining firms A resource-rich government takes on foreign mining firms
資源富足的加納與外國採礦公司的較量資源富足的加納與 外國採礦公司的較量
Mar 31st 2010 | ACCRA | From The Economist print edition Mar 31st 2010 | ACCRA | From The Economist print edition
BRITISH colonialists called Ghana the Gold Coast. To this day it remains Africa's second-biggest producer of the metal, after South Africa, and the world's ninth-biggest. Five foreign mining firms are digging huge open pits to get at the gold, encouraged by recent record prices. But the country, once seen as one of Africa's most welcoming jurisdictions for mining firms, is now becoming more exacting. BRITISH colonialists called Ghana the Gold Coast. To this day it remains Africa's second-biggest producer of the metal, after South Africa, and the world's ninth-biggest. Five foreign mining firms are digging huge open pits to get at the gold, encouraged by recent record prices. But the country, once seen as one of Africa's most welcoming jurisdictions for mining firms, is now becoming more exacting.
大英帝國的殖民者們曾將加納稱作是“黃金海岸”。大英帝國的殖民者們曾將加納稱作是“黃金海岸”。直到今天，加納也一直保持著非洲第二，僅次於南非，以 及全球第九產金大國的位置。直到今天，加納也一直保持著非洲第二，僅次於南非，以 及全球第九產金大國的位置。目前，由於金價再創新高，五家國外採礦公司正在加納大 型露天礦區加緊作業。目前，由於金價再創新高，五家國外採礦公司正在加納大 型露天礦區加緊作業。然而，曾被國外採礦業視為非洲最受歡迎礦區的加納，如 今對外來採礦的態度也開始變得嚴苛起來。然而，曾被國外採礦業視為非洲最受歡迎礦區的加納，如 今對外來採礦的態度也開始變得嚴苛起來。
Ghana's parliament has voted to increase royalties from 3% to 5%, although the president has yet to sign the bill. In February the country's environmental regulator suspended production at AngloGold Ashanti's Iduapriem mine because the mine's tailings dam, which stores cyanide-laced waste, was almost full. Last year the agency prevented Golden Star Resources, a Canadian firm, from expanding a mine where it had failed to fill an abandoned pit. Most notably, earlier this year it fined Newmont, the world's second-biggest goldmining firm, $4.9 m over a cyanide spill at its Ahafo mine. Ghana's parliament has voted to increase royalties from 3% to 5%, although the president has yet to sign the bill. In February the country's environmental regulator suspended production at AngloGold Ashanti's Iduapriem mine because the mine's tailings dam, which stores cyanide-laced waste, was almost full. Last year the agency prevented Golden Star Resources, a Canadian firm, from expanding a mine where it had failed to fill an abandoned pit. Most notably, earlier this year it fined Newmont , the world's second-biggest goldmining firm, $4.9 m over a cyanide spill at its Ahafo mine.
儘管加納總統還未簽署通過，但是加納議會早就投票決議 將礦業特別許可費從之前的3%提升到5%。儘管加納總統還未簽署通過，但是加納議會早就投票決議 將礦業特別許可費從之前的3%提升到5%。今年二月，加納環境科技部關閉了南非盎格魯黃金公司的 塔比瑞比礦，因為該礦的尾礦壩幾乎已經堆滿了含有氰化物的尾礦渣。今年二月，加納環境科技部關閉了南非盎格魯黃金公司的 塔比瑞比礦，因為該礦的尾礦壩幾乎已經堆滿了含有氰化物的尾礦渣。去年，該部門對加拿大金星資源公司想要在原先廢棄的礦 區上擴建另一個礦點的計劃亮起了紅燈。去年，該部門對加拿大金星資源公司想要在原先廢棄的礦 區上擴建另一個礦點的計劃亮起了紅燈。最值得注意的是，今年早些時候，環境科技部還給全球第 二大的紐蒙特黃金公司開出了490萬美金的罰單，原因是該公司旗下的阿哈福金礦氰化物外洩。最值得注意的是，今年早些時候，環境科技部還給全球第 二大的紐蒙特黃金公司開出了490萬美金的罰單，原因是該公司旗下的阿哈福金礦氰化物外洩。
The immediate cause of the increase in royalties is a budget deficit of almost 10% of GDP. But underlying it and the increasingly strict enforcement of environmental rules is a sense that Ghana is not getting much benefit from its mineral wealth. Gold accounted for 40% of exports in 2008, with a value of $2.2 billion. But the government received only $116m in taxes and royalties from mining firms—less than 4% of the country's total tax take. “When you come here as an investor,” says Sherry Ayittey, the minister of the environment, “don't come to mine and pollute the water bodies, repatriate your profits and leave our people suffering.” The immediate cause of the increase in royalties is a budget deficit of almost 10% of GDP. But underlying it and the increasingly strict enforcement of environmental rules is a sense that Ghana is not getting much benefit from its mineral wealth. Gold accounted for 40% of exports in 2008, with a value of $2.2 billion. But the government received only $116m in taxes and royalties from mining firms—less than 4% of the country's total tax take. “When you come here as an investor,” says Sherry Ayittey, the minister of the environment, “don't come to mine and pollute the water bodies, repatriate your profits and leave our people suffering.”
加納政府所面臨達GDP10%的預算赤字恐怕是提升特 權許可費的直接原因。加納政府所面臨達GDP10%的預算赤字恐怕是提升特 權許可費的直接原因。但是，在許可費提升以及不斷趨嚴的環境管制條例的背 後，還存在著另一種暗示，即加納從其採礦業中所獲利益並不多。但是，在許可費提升以及不斷趨嚴的環境管制條例的背 後，還存在著另一種暗示，即加納從其採礦業中所獲利益並不多。 2008年加納的黃金出口額占出口總額的40%，高達 22億美元。 2008年加納的黃金出口額占出口總額的40%，高達 22億美元。但是政府從採礦公司收取的稅收和特權許可費僅1.16 億美元——佔全國稅收總額不到4%。但是政府從採礦公司收取的稅收和特權許可費僅1.16 億美元——佔全國稅收總額不到4%。 “來這裡投資的人，”環境科技部部長雪利·阿依提說 道，“不能光來採礦、污染水體，自己荷包塞滿了還要讓我們的人民受苦。” “來這裡投資的人， ”環境科技部部長雪利·阿依提說道，“不能光來採礦、 污染水體，自己荷包塞滿了還要讓我們的人民受苦。”
Mining firms, predictably, are unenthusiastic. They say a new royalty regime could deter future investment and, in some cases, violate existing agreements. The government, in turn, is trying to renegotiate those agreements. Billy Mawasha, who runs Iduapriem, says his firm is not dogmatic, but had hoped that “the investment agreement would stay in place as it is.” Mining firms, predictably, are unenthusiastic. They say a new royalty regime could deter future investment and, in some cases, violate existing agreements. The government, in turn, is trying to renegotiate those agreements. Billy Mawasha, who runs Iduapriem, says his firm is not dogmatic, but had hoped that “the investment agreement would stay in place as it is.”
對此，採礦公司們則是意料之中地冷漠，聲稱提升特權許 可費會阻礙未來的投資，還可能在某種程度上違反現有的投資協約，反而是加納政府正在努力就當前的協議展開重新談判。對此，採礦公司們則是意料之中地冷漠，聲稱提升特權許 可費會阻礙未來的投資，還可能在某種程度上違反現有的投資協約，反而是加納政府正在努力就當前的協議展開重新談判。塔比瑞比礦老闆比利·馬瓦沙認為他的公司並不受條條框 框限制，並且表示希望“維持當前投資協約不做改變”。塔比瑞比礦老闆比利·馬瓦沙認為他的公司並不受條條框 框限制，並且表示希望“維持當前投資協約不做改變”。
In rich and poor countries alike, taxes and royalties tend to gyrate with commodity prices, as governments seek to cream off a greater share of profits in good years and stimulate investment in lean ones. Several other African countries, including Tanzania and Zambia, have gone backwards and forwards on royalties in recent years. But Ghana's new tack is noteworthy since the country is in the midst of an oil boom. Several Western oil firms are developing fields off the country's coast. Production is likely to start next year, and to bring in far more money than mining. The government hopes to capture more than a third of the proceeds in one way or another. It is even arguing over a big investment by Exxon Mobil—a sure sign of resolve. In rich and poor countries alike, taxes and royalties tend to gyrate with commodity prices, as governments seek to cream off a greater share of profits in good years and stimulate investment in lean ones. Several other African countries, including Tanzania and Zambia, have gone backwards and forwards on royalties in recent years. But Ghana's new tack is noteworthy since the country is in the midst of an oil boom. Several Western oil firms are developing fields off the country's coast. Production is likely to start next year, and to bring in far more money than mining. The government hopes to capture more than a third of the proceeds in one way or another. It is even arguing over a big investment by Exxon Mobil—a sure sign of resolve.
任何國家，無論貧富，其稅款與特權許可費都與商品價格 密切相連，因為政府會在好年頭里吃掉最豐厚的利潤，而在相對黯淡的年景裡刺激投資。任何國家，無論貧富，其稅款與特權許可費都與商品價格 密切相連，因為政府會在好年頭裡吃掉最豐厚的利潤，而在相對黯淡的年景裡刺激投資。在其他非洲國家，如坦桑尼亞和讚比亞，近幾年的特權許 可費也是漲漲落落。在其他非洲國家，如坦桑尼亞和讚比亞，近幾年的特權許 可費也是漲漲落落。但是，由於加納處於油價上漲的風口浪尖，這一次的新動 作還是很值得注意的。但是，由於加納處於油價上漲的風口浪尖，這一次的新動 作還是很值得注意的。目前，幾家西方石油公司正在加納近海開髮油田，預計明 年將會投產，所帶來的經濟利益遠遠超過礦產業。目前，幾家西方石油公司正在加納近海開髮油田，預計明 年將會投產，所帶來的經濟利益遠遠超過礦產業。無論如何，加納政府希望至少能拿到石油開發總收益的三 分之一。無論如何，加納政府希望至少能拿到石油開發總收益的三 分之一。為此，加納政府甚至同埃克森美孚就一項大型投資方案爭 論不休——由此可見，政府之決心異常明確。為此，加納政府甚至同埃克森美孚就一項大型投資方案爭 論不休——由此可見，政府之決心異常明確。
