Gairloch gold firm criticised by MSP and national campaigners

This story was first published in Issue 2, Volume 48.

A Canadian mining company that hopes to exploit minerals around Gairloch has faced renewed criticism from researchers, environmental campaigners and a Highland MSP over its approach to engaging the local community. 


Galantas Gold has had an interest in Wester Ross since it paid the Gairloch Estate £347,000 in 2023 for exclusive rights to the minerals across a land area covering 217 km2. 

Since then, a series of freedom of information requests to public bodies has revealed that the firm has carried out extensive work to learn more about mineral deposits in the area, with most activity focussed around Kerrysdale, where several new boreholes were dug. 


Galantas announced a partnership with the University of Edinburgh in 2024. A freedom of information request to the University found that the firm had enlisted the help of a Phd student to help analyse samples from the Gairloch area. The University charged Galantas £270 per day for the use of a high-tech Electron Probe Microanalysis (EPMA) Facility to analyse samples. 


But beyond regulatory filings the firm must make to financial markets, the occasional press release, and what can be gleaned from freedom of information requests, information on what the firm plans around Gairloch is scant. 
Should the firm conclude that there are commercially viable deposits in the area then any mine could be a significant development, not just for the local community, but also for the UK as a whole. 


This is because there is more than gold in the deposits in and around Kerrysdale. Other so-called “transition minerals” have also been found alongside more common materials such as copper. These rare minerals are becoming increasingly sought after globally, as they play an important role in new technologies - such as batteries and solar panels - that will help us all cut our fossil fuel use and deal with climate change. 


In the global race to net-zero having a local supply of such transition minerals could be of strategic importance to the whole UK. 
Yet, a new report from Friends of the Earth Scotland (FOEs), based on research by a different University of Edinburgh student into the Gairloch project and three other proposed mines in Scotland, calls for mining firms and public authorities to do a lot more to make sure local communities have a say - and get some benefit - from any new mines. 


In theory, planning rules in Scotland require community engagement that “should be early, collaborative, meaningful and proportionate,” yet the research found that mining firms were failing to live up to these rules. 

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In Gairloch, community council members are already on record saying they feel “in the dark” about local plans. Researchers also found that politicians were often wary of standing up for local concerns. 


The FOEs report also reiterates local calls for a community benefit fund to be incorporated into any Gairloch project - if mining ever goes ahead. 
If it does, the Galantas deal with the Gairloch Estate will see the Estate paid at least £50,000 per “mining year” plus 5% of the profits. However, there is nothing compelling the firm to share any mining profits with the wider community. 


Tamsin Wake, lead researcher on the FOEs report said: “We know that the energy transition needs to happen as quickly as possible, but this can’t be done at the expense of people and planet. Mining companies must not be allowed to take shortcuts, sidestepping ethical practices for the sake of their own interests and undercutting affected local communities.” 

Researchers summarised the view of one anonymous Gairloch local as: “they know that the average local person is not benefiting from exploration and is unlikely to benefit from a mine.” 


Ariane Burgess, Green MSP for the Highlands said: “I fully support the calls from Friends of the Earth Scotland for Galantas Gold to enhance their engagement with local communities. 

“The findings in their report highlight a significant gap in communication and transparency, which has led to feelings of disempowerment and isolation among residents. It is crucial that Galantas Gold provides early, comprehensive, and clear consultations to ensure that the community is well-informed and their concerns are addressed.”


And she called on both the Scottish Government and Highland Council to go further than requiring developers to set-up a community benefit fund - arguing that they should ensure communities are given a share in the ownership over any development through the planning system. 


“I strongly believe that both Highland Council and the Scottish Government should commit to mandating a community ownership approach through the planning system. I am actively considering ways to encourage these bodies to adopt such measures, as it is essential for ensuring that communities are not left behind in the wake of industrial activities. I’d also urge exploration companies to think creatively about how to best support the communities they rely on for workers, welfare and wealth.”


Despite these concerns, it is open to question whether Galantas are serious about developing the Gairloch project at all. There has been no public progress statement about Gairloch since March 2024. 

The firm seems to be concentrating on another project in Northern Ireland. Accounts show that Galantas has burned through nearly $13million since October 2022. In that time it generated no revenue at all, and at the time of writing its share price has never been lower.
As Burgess put it: “The decline in Galantas Gold's share price, despite the rising global gold price, raises concerns about the viability and financial stability of their operations in Gairloch. This situation suggests that there may be underlying issues affecting investor confidence and the overall feasibility of the project. It is important for the company to address these concerns transparently and provide reassurances to the community.”


Galantas Gold were contacted for comment but did not respond.