Belo Sun Mining Corp. said Dec. 6 that a Brazilian Federal Court of Appeals in the federal capital of Brasilia upheld the suspension of the construction license for the company's Volta Grande gold property, with the publication of written details pending.
A judge at the Agrarian Court of Altamira lifted the temporary injunction against construction work at the project in June, allowing more time for the relocation of certain families near the project area, after a Brazilian Federal Regional Court suspended the construction license in April due to a lack of approval from Brazil's indigenous affairs agency, Funai, on Belo Sun's related indigenous study.
According to the latest ruling, the company will be required to complete an indigenous study in accordance with Funai's guidelines.
Belo Sun said it will continue to negotiate with Funai to complete a study that complies with its protocols, while also evaluating legal options including appealing the decision.
