Maravi

CCZ calls for specific uranium mining policy

CCZ calls for specific uranium mining policy
By Fridah Zinyama
Tue 13 July 2010, 08:20 CAT

THE Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) has stated that there is need for a specific uranium mining policy that will protect the country and its citizens from unscrupulous mining investors.

In a report titled ‘Prosperity unto Death’ prepared following a study conducted within the framework of the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI) and Publish What You Know (PWYK) umbrella, the church mother body questions the lack of specific policy on uranium exploration and mining inspite of its peculiarity and dangers compared to copper.

“The current policy leaves the onus on safety on the mining companies and the supervision strength of the ministry of mines is not there,” the report stated.

The advent of uranium exploration and subsequent mining activities in Zambia in the early to mid 2000s has generated discussions focussed on two main areas of concern, especially for the affected communities in these areas.

Questions have been asked as to whether economic benefits of these activities are accruing to these communities and whether these mining companies would deal with the effects related to these explorations and mining activities

Uranium is the heaviest naturally occurring element on earth. It is both radioactive and fissionable; this is why it is classified as the deadliest metal on earth because of these two characteristics .

The radio-activity and fissionability of uranium is responsible for introduction into the human environment a tremendously large range of radio-active materials which are all very unfavourable to biological organisms.

Since these particles are like fragments, they eventually get into the water, food and air that people drink, eat and breathe respectively.

Currently, there are three major exploration companies which have acquired concession rights for uranium exploration and subsequent mining in Zambia.

These are African Energy Resources (AER), Denison Mine Zambia Limited (DMZL) and Lumwana Mining Company.

AER is operating in Chirundu, and LMC mining activities fall within the confines of the company’s copper exploration and mining operations at Malundwe and Chimiwungo copper, cobalt, gold and uranium deposits which are located in the North Western Province.

And the report stated that the lack of the uranium mining policy was dangerous as it left the people based in areas where these mining activities were taking place vulnerable.

“No land can be converted to mining without the approval of chiefs but chiefs in the areas where the mining activities are taking place have since complained of uranium miners invading their chiefdoms without their consent,” the report stated.

The report further highlighted that people had been forcibly removed and not compensated by explorers for disrupting their lives despite the Land Acquisition Act stating setting regulations for compulsory compensation for all acquired land and property.

“MOUs have been signed between government and the mining investors who promised to provide jobs for the local communities but the reality is that most jobs have been casual and temporary in nature,” the report indicated.

The report also pointed out that community participation in decision making, as contained in the Mines and Mineral Development Policy, had not been enforced.

“Local communities seem not to know or have a say in what is happening in their neighbourhoods,” the report read in part, and also raised questions on who would clean up the waste matters from the mining activities.

After raising the gaps and weaknesses in Zambia’s mining legislation and enforcement, the report recommended that government should revise the current mining regulations to address the issues of dangers of uranium mining and the disposal of waste radio-active materials.

“Government should further improve on the existing mining policy to seal the gaps and loopholes in the mining policy,” the report stated. “Better still there is need for a specific uranium mining policy that will be thorough and protect the country and its citizens from unscrupulous mining investors, who might not adequately protect the environment and the communities in the areas they work.

The report further suggests that government and the uranium investors should conduct educational and awareness programmes for communities living in areas of uranium mining exploration on the dangers, risks, and remedial actions taken during and after radio- active mining.

“There is also need for government to develop a uranium disaster management plan in the event of radio-activity exposure or accidents in line with acceptable international standards,” the report stated.
Debate has been raging in other Uranium-rich countries like Namibia which has been dealing with the effects of uranium mining.

Workers who have been exposed to even low levels of radiation over a long period of time have been known to develop serious health problems and communities have also been negatively affected.

Uranium mining uses a lot of water and leaves huge craters in the earth since it is usually mined using open-pit methods, and due to this, dust can be blown for kilometres affecting other areas which are not in the mining communities.

Labels: CCZ, URANIUM

posted by MrK @ 2:31 PM