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Soda ash project: Tata Chemical is `reviewing` ESIA
2008-05-01 11:00:12
By Lusekelo Philemon
TATA Chemicals Ltd, a leading investing partner in the proposed Lake Natron soda ash mining project is reviewing its Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) to meet the threats it would pose to lesser flamingos and the entire ecosystem in the area.
Speaking at a discussion with stakeholders in Dar es Salaam yesterday Tata Chemicals Ltd new Projects Manager Rahul Singh said currently his company has reallocated the plant site 30 kilometers away from the margins of the Ramsar site.
The event which was meant to update the stakeholders on the project was organised by the World Bank.
Rahul said under the new ESIA, all raised concerns on the proposed project would be thoroughly addressed with consideration given on how to balance industrialisation and tourism.
``We have turned down the earlier ESIA report. And we have requested the government to throw away the original report as we are working on new studies on the matter,`` he said, adding that the government was yet to respond to their requests.
According to Rahul, the new plant site is expected to be out of the Ramsar site boundaries to ensure the sustainability of the lake`s ecosystem.
He further said that the second phase of the new ESIA would also look into the hydrological effects of the project to ensure that the levels of waters in the lake are sustainably used.
``The company will take all environmental issues into account. All raised concerns will be taken aboard in the coming ESIA report,`` he tolf participants drawn from government departments, media and environmental associations.
He said at the new plant site all services would be established including settlement, schools, and hospitals among others.
He said at the site, his company would build a coal-fired power station, road and rail links and housing for 1,200 workers.
Commenting on the proposed plant, National Development Corporation (NDC) project Development Director Alley Mwakibolwa backed up the new investor`s initiatives saying the soda ash mining process would employ a highly sophiscated technology.
According to the NDC official, there was a need for co-existence between the importance of lesser flamingo, people`s livelihoods and economic development in general.
``Putting together all the viable stakeholders will help to come up with a very viable project by Lake Natron,`` said Mwakibolwa.
He said the project was still viable to all, people at the grass-root levels and the government on the other side.
He said the plant would contribute millions of dollars to the country`s development as well as creating more employment opportunities as well as improving social services delivery within the area.
Presenting his paper on the socio-economic importance of the lake, Wildlife Conservation Society of Tanzania Chief Executive Officer Lota Melamari said the lake accommodates 75 per cent of the breeding sites for lesser flamingos.
``This makes it one of the most vital sites for this well-known species, as well as an important tourism destination,`` he said.
Expressing his fears, he said the plans to build a large soda ash plant on the banks of Lake Natron could drive the flamingos away from one of its last five breeding sites, and possibly put the species at a much greater risk of extinction.
Soda ash (or sodium carbonate) is used in a huge variety of chemical processes.
It`s essential in glass-making, metal processing, textiles, photography, and other industries. It even makes Raman noodles possible.
Lake Natron is a particularly appealing site for soda ash production because of its high concentration of sodium carbonate.
``Lake Natron`s vast flocks of shimmering pink flamingos are one of the world`s greatest wildlife attractions,`` said Melamari.
In his remarks Chairman of Journalist Environmental Association of Tanzania (JET) Deo Mfugale said the proposed plant on the internationally recognised wetland would pump more than 100, 000 liters of fresh water and 550, 000 liters of brine (saltwater) from the area every hour.
He said the issue of water levels had not yet explored by investors` proposals.
Serena Shao, Tourism Service Manager of the Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) urged Tata Company to take into consideration the plight of lesser flamingo as it attracts millions of tourists in the area.
However, environmentalists at that forum were of the view that the reallocation of the plant site would not relieve the lesser flamingos from extinction.
At the end the stakeholders agreed to come up with a small committee to chat out the way forward for the project.
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