M. Fayiah
Abstract
Sierra Leone is blessed with abundant natural resources but yet prone to environmental degradation due to the mining operations. Most often, the mining communities are faced with social tensions, as a result of the possible trade-off between the expected employment impact and the cost of mining operations ...
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Sierra Leone is blessed with abundant natural resources but yet prone to environmental degradation due to the mining operations. Most often, the mining communities are faced with social tensions, as a result of the possible trade-off between the expected employment impact and the cost of mining operations to the environment. Over the past decades, the contribution of the mining sector to the development of the country has been overshadowed by the fact that the mining operations have had adverse negative effects, mainly due to the country's weak environmental policies and the failure of the mine monitoring institutions, to supervise the operations of mining company operations. This article seeks to examine both the environmental and the social implication of mining operations on three mining edge communities in Sierra Leone. This paper also utilizes secondary data from the published articles, government’s reports, workshops and conference proceedings, policy documents of non-governmental organizations, newspapers, and the like to generate this writer's view on the topic under review. The thrust of the review will be on the following: Sierra Rutile Limited, Koidu Holdings Limited, and Shandong Iron Ore Mines. The above mining companies have been carefully selected due to the fact that they are located close to dwelling communities, and have been mining in Sierra Leone over a long period of time. The environmental performance index and the mining impact framework are used to clearly show the impact of mining operations on the environment in Sierra Leone. As a result of mining operations, deforestation is skyrocketing, public discomfort and air pollution has worsened, and social unrest has increased as a result of some unacceptable consequences including pollution of water source without recourse to short-term remedy. The literature reviewed by this writer reveals that the mining activities have two faces in Sierra Leone. One is that it serves as a resource curse. An example to this sad reality is the outbreak of civil war, social unrest among others. On the other hand, the mining sector is one of the principal backbones of the economy. It contributes to the livelihood of the country. This paper introduces three-way approaches of mining sector operation remedies that include but not limited to: 1) sound Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) adoption before mining operations starts; 2) carrying out Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA); 3) regular engagement with all stakeholders of mining-affected communities. This article recommends that restoration activities by mining companies go along with extraction and adequate compensation.
V.F Navarro Torres; G Zamora Echenique; R.N Singh
Abstract
Hydrographically Bolivian Poopó Lake is located in the basin of Desaguadero River and it has over a dozen main tributary rivers and other smaller rivers with lower flow. The mine water discharge from the abandoned and current mining activities polluted these rivers by carrying heavy metals, dissolved ...
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Hydrographically Bolivian Poopó Lake is located in the basin of Desaguadero River and it has over a dozen main tributary rivers and other smaller rivers with lower flow. The mine water discharge from the abandoned and current mining activities polluted these rivers by carrying heavy metals, dissolved and suspended solids which in turn polluted the Poopó Lake which is considered as an important Lake in this area. The present paper deals with the environmental hazards associated with the mining activities with an objective of determining the environmental quality of the Poopó Lake and its tributary rivers, based on physical-chemical analysis of superficial water and sediment samples. The results of the research show that the Poopó Lake water quality can be classified as highly saline, containing high concentration of dissolved or suspended solid, as well arsenic, lead, cadmium, zinc and other heavy metals exceeding the permissible limits of pollutants. Desaguadero River contributed to the Poopó Lake pollution by 70% arsenic, 64% lead, 4.27% zinc and 2.18% cadmium. Other important pollution contributors are Antequera River by 57 % zinc, 32.9 % cadmium and 0.66% lead, and Huanuni River by 61.2% cadmium, 2.23% lead and 34.3% zinc. Vinto foundry, Kori kollo mine and mainly San José mine polluted the Poopó Lake by arsenic and lead through Desaguadero River. Bolivar and Huanuni mines polluted the Poopó Lake by cadmium and zinc through Antequera and Huanuni Rivers. Additionally the mining activities continue to pollute the Poopó Lake by dissolved and suspended solids transporting through Desaguadero, Antequera and Huanuni rivers.
