Miners challenged to go green

Authorities at the Ministry of Environment and Tourism have challenged miners to go green on mining activities.

“We urge our mines to continue to engage in environmentally sensitive mining to ensure the sustainability of our natural resource capital,” said Depart of Environmental Affairs ( DEA), Thaloganyo Toteng Busang at Leru Energy’s green energy seminar in Gaborone recently. DEA also believes that the greening of the mining industry will contribute positively to Botswana’s international obligations to the United Nations ( UN) Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Paris Agreement, UN Convention on Biological Diversity and UN Convention on Combating Desertification. Busang said though resource limitations affect implementation of the country’s Environmental Assessment Act in its entirety, greening of the mining industry is key. The DEA remains available to assist the industry in their environmental management requests. Although Busang highlighted that EIA reports submitted to the DEA normally indicate that the mines will entirely green their activities, inspection reveal discrepancies.

“However, during audits and inspections, there will be limited greening of mining activities,” said Busang. On paper, miners indicate intentions to reuse water, solar energy and concurrent rehabilitation use of technology to reduce impact among others but there is limited implementation of the approved EIA.

Government wants EIA tools to be utilised to ensure that industries operate under acceptable conditions which are not detrimental to employees; local communities, and the environment. “The EIA integrates environmental management principles and practices into mining activities,” said Busang. In addition, there is a barrel of legislative instruments that support the greening of industries, which involves, among others, use of renewable energy sources, reforestation, water reuse, sustainable management systems, and environmentally conscious or sensitive mining practices. These include the Integrated Waste Management Policy, Forestry Act, Climate Change Policy; National Adaptation Plan, National Parks and Wildlife Act and Regulatory Authority for the Environmental Assessment Act.