RE:RE:RE:RE:RE:RE:news totally expected Scam would imply something illegal, and I doubt very much that's the case here. This is just several sets of businessmen of different levels of competence, each acting in their own best interests.
Unfortunately, the original mine developers were geologists, not developers or operators, and lacked the competence to accomplish what they promised. By the time they were replaced, they had saddled the company with financial obligations and structure that the new management, no matter how competent, will struggle with for years.
BNP and Appian are simply acting to maximize their return in every way legally possible. If you were an owner of eaither, you would expect nothing less. Unfortunately, if you are an owner of Harte, the original management left BNP and Appian holding all the cards.