Gold Ridge Mining Limited (GRML) on Tuesday hosted Year 11 Chemistry students from Woodford International School as part of their excursion to learn about the mining sector.
The students were accompanied by two of their teachers, Mrs. Josephine Lotikena and Mr. Vincent Kuma.
Upon their arrival the students were warmly welcomed by GRML’s Government and Public Relations Manager Ben Afuga.
In his remarks, Mr. Afuga expressed delighted to host the students and hoped that this experience will provide valuable learning and inspiration to the students as they explored the real-world applications of chemistry in the mining sector.
This marks the second year in a row that students from Woodford International School have visited the site.
Based on the positive feedback received from last year’s cohort, the school was keen to offer the same opportunity to this year’s Chemistry class— and GRML was equally pleased to continue the partnership.
As part of the visit, the GRML team delivered a series of presentations tailored to the students’ chemistry curriculum and the GRML operations, followed by an interactive Q&A session.
The students engaged eagerly with GRML staff, particularly during discussions about chemical processes used in ore extraction, refining, and environmental management.
The group was then taken on a guided tour of the company’s on-site laboratory, where they observed analytical techniques and instruments used in mineral analysis and quality control.
“It was an honor to have the opportunity to give the students a brief introduction to the role of chemistry in mining. I also hope they gained valuable insights from their site visit”, said the Lab Manager, Mr. Sun Yanlong.
The final leg of the visit took the students to the Tailings Storage Facility (TSF), where they were introduced to the site’s environmental safeguards and chemical treatment systems for water discharge. This component of the tour helped students understand how mining operations manage sustainability and environmental compliance.
The visit aimed to support learning outcomes such as:
- Observing industrial-scale chemical processes used in gold mining;
- Understanding refining techniques and ore chemistry;
- Gaining insight into environmental monitoring and water treatment;
- Exploring career opportunities in chemistry, engineering, and environmental science.
The visit is part of GRML’s ongoing commitment to community engagement and education, particularly in supporting the development of science education in Solomon Islands.
Woodford International School has commended GRML for its continued support and the positive learning experience provided to students for a second consecutive year.
– GRML
