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National Environment Management Council
(NECM) Director General, Dr. Samuel Gwamaka( in front) with other Tanzania
government officials inspect North Mara Gold Mine’s Tailings Storage
Facility(TSF) before he ordered the gold mine to stop using the TFS for failure
to contain seepage leakages.
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The National Environment Management
Council (NEMC) has halted the use of Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) at North
Mara Gold Mine until when the mine will contain and prevent seepage leakages.
It is feared that the seepage is
harmful to human health, livestock and water sources.
“ The health of our people is
important than anything ”, NEMC Director General, Dr. Samuel Gwamaka said when
he was to speaking to journalists after issuing instructions to halt the use of
TSF at North Mara Gold Mine recently.
“We have halted the use of the TSF and instructed
the mining company to stop the leakages or build up a new facility so as to
protect environment and people’s health,”Dr Gwamaka said.
He said that it is imperative for
the gold mining company to carry out production of gold while preserving the environment.
Dr. Gwamaka who was accompanied by
officers from Mineral Commission and National Chemist Office said NEMC will not
tolerate acts violating environmental laws.
“For example, experts took samples
from the tailings storage facility in September last year and February, March,
May and June this year whereby all the samples indicated poisonous contents,”
he said.
On his part, a representative from
the Government Chief Chemist Office, Mr. Boniventure Masambu lamented that all
the samples taken have indicated the presence of poison.
“We are glad to see that our advice
has been taken seriousily and implemented by the responsible authority,” he
said adding that environment conservation is crucial to protect people from
health risks.
North Mara Gold Mine Acting Manager Mr
Reuben Ngusaro promised to work on the instructions.
“We will work on the instructions
because we care for environment and people’s health”, Mr Ngusaro said
In May this year, NEMC fined
the gold mine 5.6 billion shillings for breaching environmental laws associated
with the effluent leakages.
North Mara is one of the gold mines operated
by Acacia Mining in Tanzania.
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