Operations at the gold mine in Pennants, Clarendon, which ceased nearly two years ago, could resume soon, according to the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA).

Chief Executive Officer of NEPA, Peter Knight, told journalists at a media briefing at the agency's Cross Roads, St Andrew offices recently, that they were advised that the operators, AUSJAM Limited, "wished to return to reactivate the site".

This is based on reports of additional gold deposits in the area, as well as a Notice of Intent issued by NEPA, to revoke AUSJAM's environmental permit, which authorised the entity to engage in mining activities.

The permit for mining was granted by the Natural Resources Conservation Authority (NRCA) in 1997, without the provision of a closure plan, in keeping with stated stipulations. The gold mine is the first and only such facility to be operated in Jamaica.

Commissioner of the Mines and Geology Division, Ministry of Energy and Mining, Clinton Thompson, who also spoke at the briefing, said based on their knowledge of the area's geology, "There are some more deposits on the site which require further exploration."

"That was why closure of the mine was not affected. When the mine (was being) operated, gold was less than US$300 (J$26,700) per ounce; it's now US$1,500 (J$133,500). You can recognise the importance of that deposit, which is the patrimony of the Jamaican people," Thompson said.