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Ngeleja: Do not ignore role played by artisanal miners
2008-08-18 09:27:31
By Njonanje Samwel
Energy and Minerals minister William Ngeleja has called for giant mineral mining firms not to ignore the big role played by small-scale miners.
He made the remarks on Saturday shortly after he addressed the launching ceremony of the artisanal mining project in Dar es Salaam.
The mining firm-Barrick Gold Tanzania Ltd has volunteered to establish and fund the initiative in support of the small-scale miners in the country that will later be open for other mining stakeholders such as the government and mining chambers to contribute.
Under the initiative, small-scale miners will receive support such as registration of cooperative societies, land acquisition, training and skill-imparting.
Other supports include identifying and sourcing of mining technology as well as sourcing for sustained funding of the initiative.
According to Ngeleja, small-scale miners in the country have been very supportive in assisting larger mining firms locate areas that are rich in minerals.
He said modern mining operations in the country dates back in 1930s with traditional technology used before the start of profession mining in the early 1990s.
"Small-scale miners have played a big role in helping giant mining firms reduce time, technology and other costs employed in conducting seismic studies in quest for locating mineral-rich areas.
``Many of these firms are now conducting mining in areas formerly used by locals. May the giant mining firm not ignore the big role played by small-scale miners,`` he said.
He said estimation shows that the country has over 1.5 million artisanal miners and that the initiative forms one of the greatest opportunities to coordinate and regulate the sub-sector, making it more responsible and in the process make it economically sustainable.
He, however, said that in 2007/08 the government has set aside areas for small-scale mining throughout the country.
They include; 269,842 ha in Kilindi, Kilosa and Mvomero in Tanga and Morogoro regions respectively, 14,870 hectares in Maganzo, Kishapu and Ibadakuli in Shinyanga Region while 10,490 ha has been set aside at Mererani in Manyara Region.
He hailed Barrick for introducing such initiative which he said was a good idea of rewarding the good work done by the miners and called for other mining firms to copy what the mining firm has done.
Speaking earlier, Barrick Executive General Manager Deo Mwanyika appealed for involvement of other stakeholdes in funding the project.
He said the project needed adequate and reliable funding from institutions such as the government, international bodies like the World Bank and other mining firms to make it more sustainable.
``Barrick has spearheaded in establishing the project. This comes from the truth that development of the sector is contributed by both small and larger-scale miners. May I appeal for other stakeholders to get involved in funding the project,`` he said.
Barrick`s Artisanal and Small-Scale Miners manager Philbert Rweyemamu said the USD2.5m project is meant to deliver significant change to the mining communities and act as a long lasting solution to problems facing the artisanal miners.
He said apart from lacking mining skills, artisanal miners face a number of other problems such as the failure to enjoy reasonable revenues obtained from minerals. .
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