GOVERNMENT APPLAUDS NORTH MARA MINE FOR SUSTAINABLE MINING
The Deputy Minister of State in the Vice-President’s Office(Environment), Charles Kitwanga (3rd left) and the Deputy Minister for
Energy and Minerals, Stephen Masele (right), inaugurate a water well
at Nyaisangero village in Tarime district, Mara region, built by
African Barrick Gold’s (ABG) North Mara Mine as part of its vast
community investment
The Deputy Minister for Energy and Minerals, Stephen Masele (2ndright), inaugurates the Sungu Sungu hospital in Tarime district, Mara
region, after African Barrick Gold’s (ABG) North Mara Mine spent
around $330,000 (more than 500 million shillings) to rehabilitate and
Corporate Affairs, Deo Mwanyika (right), Deputy Minister of State in
the Vice-President’s Office (Environment), Charles Kitwanga (3rd
right) and the General Manager of North Mara Mine, Gary Chapman.
………………………………………….
TARIME
THE government has praised the North Mara gold mine in Tarime
district, Mara region, for its efforts in conserving the environment
and ensuring it complies to sustainable mining practices.
district, Mara region, for its efforts in conserving the environment
and ensuring it complies to sustainable mining practices.
The Deputy Minister of State in the Vice-President’s Office
(Environment), Charles Kitwanga, said North Mara mine, which is owned
by African Barrick Gold (ABG), was doing a commendable job to ensure
its mining operations do not harm the environment.
(Environment), Charles Kitwanga, said North Mara mine, which is owned
by African Barrick Gold (ABG), was doing a commendable job to ensure
its mining operations do not harm the environment.
The minister said the government would continue to work with all mines
in the country to reduce their environmental footprint.
in the country to reduce their environmental footprint.
“The state of environmental conservation at North Mara mine is good.
They are making a lot of effort to conserve the environment,” Kitwanga
told journalists after a tour of the mine recently.
They are making a lot of effort to conserve the environment,” Kitwanga
told journalists after a tour of the mine recently.
“But we still need to work with some mines to ensure they comply to
internationally-accepted standards, particularly the ISO 14001
standard.”
internationally-accepted standards, particularly the ISO 14001
standard.”
The visit to North Mara mine also involved the Deputy Minister for
Energy and Minerals, Stephen Masele. The two ministers inaugurated
water and health projects and visited the sites of new schools being
built by the mine.
Kitwanga announced in the previous parliament session that he would
visit large-scale mines to inspect their compliance to sustainable
mining practices following complaints from some members of parliament.
Energy and Minerals, Stephen Masele. The two ministers inaugurated
water and health projects and visited the sites of new schools being
built by the mine.
Kitwanga announced in the previous parliament session that he would
visit large-scale mines to inspect their compliance to sustainable
mining practices following complaints from some members of parliament.
He said the mine was taking relevant measures to control the spread of
dust and reduce the level of noise from its mining operations.
The minister said he was particularly impressed by the North Mara
mine’s community investments, which include a donation of more than
1,000 school desks, construction of new schools, rehabilitation of the
Sungu Sungu hospital for more than 500 million shillings and the
drilling of water wells.
dust and reduce the level of noise from its mining operations.
The minister said he was particularly impressed by the North Mara
mine’s community investments, which include a donation of more than
1,000 school desks, construction of new schools, rehabilitation of the
Sungu Sungu hospital for more than 500 million shillings and the
drilling of water wells.
Scientific tests around North Mara mine have established that the mine
was not responsible for any pollution to surrounding water bodies.
was not responsible for any pollution to surrounding water bodies.
North Mara mine’s gold extraction process uses cyanide, but no traces
of the chemical were found in the environment.
of the chemical were found in the environment.
However, researchers found some traces of mercury, which is used by
artisanal and small-scale miners for gold processing.
artisanal and small-scale miners for gold processing.
“It is true that small-scale miners are partly to blame for
environmental pollution. We need to help these small miners build
capacity so that the mercury they use does not pollute rivers and
other water bodies in the environment.”
environmental pollution. We need to help these small miners build
capacity so that the mercury they use does not pollute rivers and
other water bodies in the environment.”
Kitwanga said his ministry would work closely with the Ministry of
Energy and Minerals to address the problem of pollution caused by
artisanal miners.
Energy and Minerals to address the problem of pollution caused by
artisanal miners.
The minister said he had personally witnessed some small-scale miners
who had suffered from mercury pollution.
“I don’t think the goal of small-scale miners is to get money at any
cost, even to their own lives,” he said.
who had suffered from mercury pollution.
“I don’t think the goal of small-scale miners is to get money at any
cost, even to their own lives,” he said.
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